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Knowledge Musona

Petros Kausiyo Deputy Sports Editor
GERMAN-based former Zimbabwe international George Mbwando has weighed in on the debate over Knowledge Musona’s return to the South African Premiership with the ex-Warriors defender describing the move as shocking and retrogressive.Musona made a stunning return to reigning Absa Premiership champions Kaizer Chiefs after just two years in the Bundesliga where he hardly made an impact at TSG Hoffenheim and has twice been loaned by the club.

The 23-year-old Warriors talismanic forward is back at Chiefs on a season’s loan from Hoffenheim with whom he has a five-year deal.
Last season, Hoffenheim also loaned Musona to fellow Bundesliga outfit Augsburg but that too did not end the former Aces Youth Academy striker’s frustrations in the German game as he barely saw action.

There were indications at the end of the European season that Musona was on the wanted list of English Championship League side Queens Park Rangers, but the striker opted for a second dance with the Super Diski.

Although his return is sweet news to the Amakhosi fans, the majority of whom have embraced it as Chiefs seek to defend their league and cup double, the move did not go down well with a number of observers including outgoing Warriors coach Klaus Dieter Pagels.

“Knowledge should have stayed in Germany as he was slowly adjusting and one or two clubs were also interested in him.
“But he opted to return here and I don’t know why. The standards in the Bundesliga are obviously higher than the South African league.

“He still has a five-year contract and should go back after a year in South Africa but if he doesn’t then it would be tricky for him to make it into Europe again,’’ Pagels said.

Yesterday, Mbwando, who has now retired from the game but remains actively involved in it through coaching and also trying to assist underprivileged children realise their dreams, added his voice to the growing chorus of resentment against the move.

The 37-year-old Mbwando reckoned that Musona had “sought an easy path’’ instead of facing the bigger challenges that confront mostly African players in the tougher European leagues.

Mbwando insisted that Musona should have stayed on in Germany and “continue to become a better player through the competition that he would regularly face there’’.

“I was as shocked as I was disappointed with Knowledge’s decision to go back to Kaizer Chiefs.
“It is retrogressive, how can you go back to High School when you have reached University. I know that at times it might not be easy to adjust to a new and tougher environment but it was not hell for Musona.

“Even if he could not play regularly in the Bundesliga he could have tried to have a season or two in the Second or even Third Division and I know that he would have bounced back into the Bundesliga a far much better player.

“With all due respect I don’t see how playing in South Africa will improve him or prepare him for European football when he has already been in Europe and knows what is required.

“All he needed to do was soldier on a little and I know that there are a number of clubs in Germany that saw the qualities in him and were interested so he was never going to struggle to find a team. He needs to return to Europe before it is too late,’’ Mbwando said.

Mbwando, who last month also gave a brutal and frank assessment of the domestic game, which has been in decline over the last few years said he had also registered his views when he spoke to Musona before he returned to South Africa.

“I actually spoke to Knowledge before he left for South Africa and advised him against it. I also told him that a lot of people were prepared to help get him a club in Germany or even around Europe but now he has taken a lot of steps backwards and I am disappointed with him.

“It is not good for his career, it does not bode well for the national team to have your best striker returning to South Africa when he had taken a giant step towards improving his game.

“In fact we need to have more players playing in the big European leagues in order for the Warriors to be competitive in the World Cup and African Cup of Nations tournaments and I am happy to hear that players like Nyasha Mushekwi have found clubs in Europe ,’’ Mbwando said.

Mbwando also lauded Zifa for appointing Ian “Dibango” Gorowa as the new Warriors coach and remained hopeful that the local football chiefs would this time around abandon their penchant for interim set-ups.

“Ian is a good coach and I think he can win things with the national team.
“But it should not just be about Ian for the national team to succeed, it does not need one man. What Ian needs more than anything else is the support of everyone because there is a lot that goes on even in the background for a national team to achieve results.

“So my advice at the moment is for all of us to offer Ian as much support as we can in our different ways and that way we will also be helping our national team,’’ Mbwando said.

Mbwando, who has earned a coaching badge since retiring from professional football, is also keen to return home next month and set up an ambitious programme aimed at reviving the national game.