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• Dumi relives 2006 AFCON heartbreak

• Urges footballers to invest wisely

Eddie Chikamhi Sports Reporter
Footballers the world over usually like to live life in the fast lane.

Some are so blinded by the spotlight and flattering newspaper headlines that they forget there is life after the game.

But for others, football is a platform for a better livelihood, a gateway from the tough life in the slums and the ghetto.

Former Warriors defender Dumisani Mpofu, who spent about eight years, in South Africa playing for modest side Umtata Bush Bucks, believes football is a very short career which needs foresight.

Mpofu suffered a major heartbreak, his international career virtually ending after incurring a serious knee injury on the eve of the 2006 African Cup of Nations, while on a training camp with the Warriors.

Then Warriors coach Charles Mhlauri had to rope in Herbert Dick as a last-minute replacement.

Although he managed to return to his club in South Africa and forced himself to play after the injury, two years later, he threw in the towel. He was convinced then that football, unlike other professions, is a short and unpredictable career.

Many a times it is depressing to read stories of footballers who fall on hard times at the end of their careers.

However, the 43-year-old, nicknamed Commando at his peak, doesn’t fit in that bill as he is making a decent living as a car dealer in Harare.

It’s not much, in his words, but “it is enough to put food on the table.”

“People do not have similar talents. Even at school some are better than others. I discovered I was an average student at school so I needed something to fall back on in life. So I took up football seriously because that was probably the best avenue for me.

“I started the car sale business when I was still playing at Umtata Bush Bucks. I had a friend called Tinashe Madhende, who used to take care of things on my behalf here until I decided to come back and run the business myself.

“So this has been my trade since then. But the business can be tricky, like these days there isn’t much money in circulation, so we are mostly buying and selling so that we can at least put food on the table,” said Mpofu.

Eight years ago, the big ex-Warriors defender decided his time as footballer was up. This was after he had damaged his knee ligaments while on national duty.

The injury was heartbreak as it came on the eve of the Warriors departure for Egypt for the 2006 Africa Cup of Nations.

Mpofu was part of the side which had camped in France for the AFCON tournament and all seemed well when they landed in Morocco for their last international friendly en route to Egypt.

Unfortunately, the international friendly against Morocco was his last dance with the Warriors. The former Blackpool and CAPS United defensive rock damaged his ligaments in the match and his dream to play until his 40s was dented. His main source of income had also been compromised.

“Generally, footballers should make sense of their money while they are still in their prime. There are good examples of some players who played before and are still living decent lives.

“You need to be disciplined. Of course, it’s not everyone who gets big monies; each and every player has his different pay cheque, but the secret is to be clever with investments.

“Of course, people like to enjoy the fruits of their sweat, but you should always have it in mind that there is life after football. Football is a short career and players should strive to live within their means, look into the future.

“For example, there wasn’t much money during our time compared to the present, but speaking for myself, I used to save from the little that I got. It wasn’t much, but you could afford to buy a house.

“Of course our parents had left us a house in Glen Norah, but it’s a family house. You need a house of your own. I am glad, though, that I have seen there are some boys who are doing some good investments. Football is big business and you can do much if you make the right move,” said Mpofu.

Starting from the bottom with Division three side Aluminium Tigers, Mpofu rose through different stages with stints at Rufaro Rovers, Darryn T and then Blackpool in 1995.

They were runners up in the league and played in the Cup Winners Cup (CAF Confederation Cup), where they reached the semi-finals in 1996.

The following season, he joined CAPS United just after the Harare giants had won their first post-independence championship with a galaxy of stars that included Joe Mugabe, Silver Chigwenje, Morgan Nkhathazo, Stewart Murisa, Alois Bunjira, Edelbert Dinha and Lloyd Chitembwe, who became his roommate and best friend at the club.

“I played for about four years at CAPS United. It was my dream to win a league championship, but it wasn’t be. But we won some trophies including the BP Cup and we were also runners up to Dynamos in the league in 1997.

“But I remember when I joined CAPS United, I had pressure especially coming from a background of playing for small teams. CAPS United were a big team with many supporters who always expected too much from you.

“I had to work hard to convince them and for that they loved me. I always put an extra effort. I did the same in the national team.”

Mpofu left CAPS United in 2000 and it was easy for him to fit into the new environment at Umtata Bush Bucks because he found other Zimbabweans — John Mbidzo and the Mugeyi twins William and Wilfred already plying their trade there.

By then, he was an integral member of the national team, taking over the role in defence from the previous generation of the Dream Team which had the likes of Francis Shonhayi and Ephraim Chawanda.

“My best moment was qualifying for the Nations Cup tournaments in 2004 and 2006. Then my worst moment was when I got injured on the eve of the 2006 finals, but I always think that the Dream Team before us were a better team. It appears luck evaded them,” said Mpofu.

Exactly 10 years on, the Warriors have qualified for yet another edition of the AFCON tournament to be held in Gabon next year.

Mpofu, who is now a father of three, is upbeat about their chances.

“I think we have a very good side with talented players, but where they are going requires them to work very hard. Everything is possible, who knew Zambia would win it someday?

“They should not lose focus. The same way they achieved qualification; I dare them to dream about winning AFCON,” said Mpofu.