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tired of being spectators of a game they should be playing”.
This was quoted by Andrew Wutawunashe in his latest publication, “Dear Africa: The Call of the African Dream”.
As I wrote a critique to the book on Sunday afternoon, Harare was in a jubilant mood, and so too the whole nation. It was a clash of the titans as the curtain was coming down on the game of soccer, that beautiful game that brings joy to millions; unites enemies and brings so much money to those who have realised what opportunities could be reaped from watching 22 men on the soccer pitch, fighting it out.
Sunday’s games were so crucial because between Dynamos FC (Glamour Boys) and newcomers FC Platinum who shared equal points at the top of the log, one had to emerge a winner. That the two giants had to play with relegated teams was a non-issue. The most important thing was which of the two teams would clinch the 2011 Castle Lager Premiership title.
Dear reader, all the stuff I know about soccer are the comments that I hear. But I admire the passion and gusto. Men in particular do not want to be disturbed when they are watching and/or talking soccer stuff.
They immerse themselves into the game and only regain “normalcy” after the game. It is a game that has a legion of followers.
During George Shaya’s time I tried because there was this rumour that when push came to shove, once the fans seated in the Vietnam section of Rufaro stadium started singing:
I’m your Venus
I’m your fire
Ge-o-o-rge Shaya! automatically, it would be a score from George “Mastermind” Shaya, the Zimbabwean footballer who graced the soccer stars of the year calendar more than any other star, past and present, from my recollection. While Dynamos locked horns with Kiglon FC, that little team that embarrassed them at the beginning of the season at Mbare’s Rufaro Stadium, FC Platinum was tussling it out with Shooting Stars at Gwanzura Stadium in Highfield.
All two venues are the oldest people’s suburbs. But when it’s soccer time, even the wealthiest drive from their leafy suburbs to watch the game. For those who were in Harare’s Central Business District, they could feel the pulsating mood as Dembare supporters adorned in its blue and white regalia were celebrating.
I told one supporter, “If soccer is nothing but a game, why are you celebrating before the game? Kiglon might do a repeat!” He told me, “The cup is ours. This game is a formality.” This closed the conversation.
Indeed, Dynamos lifted the Castle Cup, and their narrative is still the talk. What has all this got to do with Steve Biko? When a nation is united by two games, it behooves the mind that MDC-T decided that Sunday to hold a rally at Chibuku Stadium in Chitungwiza.
Things just happen in this bedroom town and the MDC-T leader. Last year, the homosexuality issue, which is now being debated in Parliament, was triggered by comments made by the Prime at Chitungwiza Aquatic Complex. Of course, there is freedom of choice enshrined in our constitution, but surely MDC-T, those 44 players and match officials’ livelihoods depend on gate takings and others.
If fewer people watch their matches, it means that they are not taking much home. It means that the people who bring joy to the nation become paupers. It means that instead of playing for their beloved local teams, they start looking around.
It means that they start feeling that the grass is greener elsewhere. Why? Because on that crucial day when they did their best, somebody decided to organise a political rally, when the election date has not even been proclaimed. It means that some people were forced to choose between party affiliation and the game of soccer. Europe and South Africa can only absorb a few of our players. But, their teams got to where they are because of local support: morally and financially.
We have a responsibility, and the MDC-T leadership should have realised that last Sunday was a people’s day.
In the national interest, they could have deferred their rally considering that this was the end of the soccer season. From soccer to marriage! Phyllis Kachere a writer from our sister paper, the Sunday Mail made an impassioned plea a few months ago: could someone please find a wife for our Prime Minister!
The plea came after the Prime Minister whose wife Susan died in a car accident was linked to a number of women. However, on Monday, he made that momentous decision as he paid bride price for Ms Locadia Karimatsenga Tembo. That he married in November, a month considered sacred will continue to be a talking point. So too the bride price he paid. But hey, the man made his choice. Since the media reported that the church wedding could be any time soon, the Prime Minister should be prepared to spend more. There are guzzlers who are already planning to drink and eat their hearts out on that day. But to Ms Tembo we will say: “Muroora, tauya naye/Muroora, tauya naye/Muroora, tauya naye nemagumbeze.”
The Lord says: “Haven’t you read that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.” (Matthew 19: 4-6, NIV)
This kind of neutralises the homosexual fiasco.
As a typical writer, I move from soccer to marriage to the Zanu-PF’s Annual People’s Conference to be held in Bulawayo from December 6 to 10 under the theme, “Defend national sovereignty, consolidate indigenisation and economic empowerment.”
This is the core of the national interest. People need to understand it. For a nation that fought a grueling liberation struggle it has never ceased to amaze this writer when people believe that governance issues in this country should be decided on by the same people we defeated – Westerners or that they have a major say in our resources, while we remain hewers of wood and drawers of water. As Zanu-PF deliberates on this theme, it is important to get into why some people think that what is happening in Egypt should also take place here. It is critical to note that there are some Zimbabweans who celebrated together with Western leaders, Colonel Muammar Gaddafi’s death.
Zanu-PF should also realise that its existence is a huge industry notwithstanding that there are some people who think that it is on its way out. One of the anti-capitalist protesters Occupy Wall Street and others are using Zanu-PF’s major symbol – the raised clenched fist, which has been described as “occupy together”, which basically means “let’s eat together”.
I reiterate what I have said before: in the national interest, people are looking at a situation where indigenisation and economic empowerment create an egalitarian society. It is time that some theories about wealth and poverty are debunked.
It worries the people when a small group of people look like they are getting the bulk of the national wealth. People ask: if there is no money to resuscitate industry, where is the money that is creating conglomerates coming from? Is it Zimbabwean money, or the 51 percent/49 percent leverage is being abused?
There is also a major outcry from the people: corruption has reached alarming levels, and there is need to act decisively. If it means amending laws and/or coming up with new laws to curb corruption, so be it.
As they deliberate, they should ask themselves this crucial question one young man asked me: “When you see a group of young people talking – it could be in the ghetto or in town – what do you think they are discussing? Do you know that we see a future that is bleak, a future where only a few privileged people are having it all?”