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From Afcon 2004 to touting
From Abel Zhakata in MUTARE
FORMER Warriors assistant coach, Brenna Msiska has traded the game that gave him fame and a little fortune and has turned into the commuter transport business - touting for passengers in Mutare’s Central Business District.
Popularly known as Baba waGari, Brenna, who used to share notes sitting on Warriors bench with the likes of Sunday "Mhofu" Chidzambwa and Rahman Gumbo, and travelled extensively across Africa with the national team, is now rubbing shoulders with Mutare’s rank marshals.
In his last with the Warriors in 2008, Msiska was one of two assistants — together with former Dynamos coach David Mandigora — to Brazilian Valinhos during the senior team’s failed 2010 World Cup and African Cup of Nations qualifying campaigns.
His croaky voice, which was so audible when he used to bark instructions on the touchline during matches has now become handy in his new found career in which the most high sounding tout always gets the more customers.
Msiska who is currently jobless has since converted his white Toyota Corolla sedan, which he was given during his stay at the now-defunct Eastern Lions as part of his exit package, to a pirate taxi.
Despite venturing into territory that has never really been his passion, the former Circle United, Eiffel Flats, Black Aces and Eastern Lions coach remains a jovial character as he touts for passengers opposite the Sports Cafe.
Msika, however insists the commuter business is just a temporary move.
"We are in the off season and the taxi business brings me extra cash," he said.
Asked to comment on rumours about his bankruptcy and whether he was to coach any side soon, Msiska just laughed off.
Msiska believes with time, he will become a transport mogul and his pirate taxi was just the beginning.
"When you see me touting it does not mean that I am broke.
"My business is still small and thus I am doing the work myself. With time, I will employ drivers who will drive my taxis.
"That’s how businesses start".
He was however, quick to say that he was on the verge of sealing a coaching deal with a team although he refused to disclose the identity of the team.
"As for my football career, I will be coaching a side when the season kicks off.
" I am having talks with a certain team which I cannot mention now but, I will tell you when we seal the deal," said.
However, close friends revealed that since the unexpected sale of Eastern Lions in 2009, which resulted in Msiska losing his job, he got mired into financial troubles.
"When Lazarus Mungwari sold his team, Brenna was left with nothing. He had no job.
"His move to join Division One outfit, Mutare United after the sale of Eastern Lions was a desperate move by someone wanting to make ends meet.
"From then things have not been smooth for him financially.
"Up to now he has not secured a decent job and that is why he is now using his car as a pirate taxi as a way to put food on the table for his family and pay rentals," said a source who requested anonymity.
Soon after the sale of Eastern Lions, Msiska was left with a heavy heart and was at a loss of words to describe the move.
He said then: "I have decided to take a short break from football related issues simply because of the shocking and saddening way Eastern Lions franchise was sold.
"That is the last thing that we at Eastern Lions ever expected would happen.
"We are aware that the economic conditions in this country are prohibitive as far as running a soccer team is concerned, but I believe there was always going to be a better way of handling that issue.
"Regrettably, that is all history and we all have to cope with life without Eastern Lions."
A true CAPS United son, the former goalkeeper retired from competitive football aged 39 after sustaining a knee injury after earning several caps with the Warriors.
He became the assistant coach to Steve Kwashi at the Green Machine and won the championship with the trailblazing CAPS United side of 1996.
Baba vaGari remained with Makepekepe until 1998 when he joined Black Aces as head coach.
In 1999, he was the Circle United mentor before going to Eiffel Flats in 2000.
The following year, he went to the now defunct Sporting Lions.
From 2002 to 2005, he was with the Warriors as the goalkeepers’ coach with Sunday "Mhofu" Chidzambwa as the head coach.
When Chidzambwa quit the Warriors Msiska remained as an assistant to Rahman Gumbo.
Msiska and Gumbo were fired after the Warriors’ 3-0 defeat to Nigeria in a World Cup qualifier at the National Sports Stadium. Before that, he was part of the history making Warriors that was led by Mhofu as they guided the senior national team to their maiden appearance at the 2004 Nations Cup in Tunisia.
He then became the head coach of the now defunct Eastern Lions and masterminded the team’s promotion into the top-flight league. |
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