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Eddie Chikamhi Senior Sports Reporter

SWISS giant-killers, Young Boys, were the toast of the football world this week following their sensational victory over European giants Manchester United in a UEFA Champions League match on Tuesday night.

The dramatic 2-1 win was the biggest upset in this year’s opening round of the world’s premier inter-club football tournament.

For one Zimbabwean, in particular, this was a special triumph.

Agent Sawu, one of the best forwards to play for the Warriors, is a Swiss Young Boys old boy.

He spent eight seasons in the Swiss topflight league and was on the books of the Bern club, between July 1998 and February 2000.

Sawu still has fond memories of his former club and felt proud to see them step into the global limelight with a stunning victory over the star-studded English side.

The Red Devils had one of the best players on the planet, Cristiano Ronaldo, who recently returned to the club from a stint in Italy.

The Portuguese superstar marked his return to the European nights in the United colours with a goal his 135th Champions League goal on a record-equalling 177th appearance, in the competition.

Sawu was watching on television as what was supposed to be a routine victory in Europe for the English giants,turned into a nightmare.

The hosts claimed a sensational late winner following a horrible mistake from Jesse Lingard in stoppage time.

“I can only be happy for them for beating such a big club like Manchester United. It’s not every day that we get to see such sensational stuff,” said Sawu.

“I say this because Manchester United, in terms of their budget, are way, way bigger than Young Boys. Their support base, as well, cannot be compared.

“Manchester United are global giants but football can be that tricky because you are chasing the same ball and you all have 90 minutes.

“So, the trick is to focus on your game, during the 90 minutes, and let the grass burn.’’

The former Warriors forward spent a season-and-half, at Young Boys.

But, the situation then was different from what is obtaining at the club, now.

The Young Boys were facing bankruptcy, and on the verge of collapsing after accumulating debts amounting close to two million Swiss francs.

They fought for survival, on and off the pitch, with the threat of relegation, which they had suffered a few seasons earlier haunting them again.

“The story of how I got to play for Young Boys is a bit long. I was identified by a scout while playing domestic football here in Zimbabwe (at Zimbabwe Saints), and I went and signed a short-term contract with SC Kriens, in Switzerland,’’ he said.

“I spent eight seasons in Switzerland.

“I played one-and-half seasons at Young Boys. They were a modest side and had solid backing from the fans from the city of Bern where they come from.

‘’You know what happens in Europe, people always back clubs from their cities and communities.

“But,when I played for Young Boys things were not as good as they are today. The club was facing a lot of financial challenges. They had issues to do with lack of sponsorship.

“But, the fact that they are still in existence today and playing at the highest level means they managed to get over it.”

After ending Basel’s dominance of Swiss football in 2018, Young Boys have won the league title four years, in a row.

They qualified for the Champions League group stage after beating Slovan Bratislava, CFR Cluj and Ferencvaros in the qualifying rounds.

“There is a big lesson to learn in football management for everyone. The way they do business there is different from the way we conduct it here,’’ said Sawu.

“But, it’s important, in terms of strategies, to engage all the stakeholders in planning and executing the business plans. Football is business, which needs to sustain itself.’’

After hanging his boots in 2008, the 49-year old has taken up a career path in football coaching and administration.

He has worked with many clubs, including Bantu Rovers, Ntabazinduna Prison and South Africa’s OR Tambo Cosmos, apart from stints with the Zimbabwe national age-group teams. Sawu attained a UEFA certificate in football management.

The programme was offered by the UEFA Academy. “Football had taken a back seat in the last 18 months or so, I just took the opportunity to go back into the class. Obviously, I am excited,’’ he said.

“I feel it’s a step in the right direction because we need to continuously upgrade our skills in this modern era. It’s good for me, it’s good for Zimbabwean football, as well.

“I am doing this to help promote and develop football in Zimbabwe.

“Due to the EUFA course that I have just completed, I think it will be more crucial to try and reactivate the links with the European teams I played for.

“One of my colleagues was using Young Boys as a case study,during the recent studies. They are quite an interesting club.”

The programme lasts for nine months and comprises 10 online modules, as well as three face-to-face seminars.

According to the UEFA website, each module and face-to-face seminar addresses a key area of football management which are necessary for people working within the football industry.

The online modules found within the UEFA CFM are as follows — the organisation of world football; strategic and performance management; operational management; football marketing and sponsorship; communication, the media and public relations.