Why the quality of Zimbabweans in the PSL has gone down
For the first time in many years, no Zimbabwean was crossing the Limpopo river to join a South African team during the ongoing transfer window.
As Zimbabwe remains suspended from international football, the recent purging of players from the DStv Premiership further left some wondering about their future in the sport if they get an opportunity to ply their trade beyond the country’s borders.
Most clubs in the DStv premiership carried out a massive clear-out of excess baggage at the end of last season, with at least ten Zimbabwean players being cut out of the lucrative league.
Only decent performers like Khama Billiat, Terrence Dzvukamanja, Onismor Bhasera, Washington Arubi and Ishmael Wadi retained their respective places.
The guillotine was wielded on Kuda Mahachi, Talent Chawapihwa, Farai Madhanhanga, Walter Musona, McClive Phiri, Charlton Mashumba, Evans Rusike and Blessing Sarupinda, among others. Willard Katsande was asked to retire by Sekhukhune.
This clear-out painted a grim picture of the quality of players being weaned out of the Zimbabwe league, as most of them failed to command a place in the first team of the clubs they were contracted to.
Some did not last for a season in the South African ranks before being cut into the wilderness. However, why the current crop of Zimbabwean players has been unsuccessful in South Africa remains a sticking point.
But most moves made to the neighbouring country are premature, according to former Zimbabwe national team coach Joey Antipas who also coached Durban-based AmaZulu.
Antipas fears that players make desperate and miscalculate transfers to earn better wages. “It’s not that we don’t have quality, but some transfers are miscalculated. These guys want to earn better, and we all know that moving into a foreign league is enticing. It’s every player’s dream, but most of them jump before they are prepared for the consequences,” Antipas tells FARPost.
“When an opportunity presents itself, they quickly grab it with both hands. There are many things to consider before joining a new club, especially a foreign one.
“If one overlooks those steps, they are bound to fail and be offloaded quickly. Being a foreigner in any league means you must go an extra mile to prove that you deserve a place to stay in the team.”
Ironically Zimbabwean players that crossed the Limpopo river during the early 2000s established themselves as mainstays at top South African clubs.
And without a doubt, this crop of players triggered a stampede of scouts in the Zimbabwean Premier Soccer League in search of exceptional talent.
Zimbabwe became a flourishing market for football scouts.
Former Warriors skipper Peter Ndlovu and Esrom Nyandoro were a cut above the rest during their playing days at Mamelodi Sundowns before they were absorbed into the club’s structures.
Tinashe Nengomasha left an indelible mark at Kaizer Chiefs, where he dazzled opponents as a midfielder, with Knowledge Musona also impressing during his stay at Naturena.
For Nengomasha, it’s a failure to adapt to the changing football trends globally. “Are we preparing our players for the transition when they move into different African leagues or abroad?” Nengomasha asked.
“There are players like Walter Musona and Tapuwa Kapini who were offloaded despite spending many seasons in the South African league. They did well.
“But maybe the clubs had different views. Maybe it was age, but I am not taking anything away from Kapini. Walter Musona did well when he got the chance. But for these players who failed to spend a season, I am sure it’s because they failed to adapt and lack the tactical skills they do not get from our local league.”
Nengomasha said football trends are changing worldwide, yet the Zimbabwean PSL remains stagnant.
“It all comes back to our premiership where I think players are not getting enough tactical development, so when they meet a modern coach like Gavin Hunt or Arthur Zwane, chances are high that they will find it challenging to adapt to modern philosophy.
“This issue comes back to our local league; above all, our country’s development has stagnated. Junior development and coach development in terms of modern trends have been slow.
“Surprisingly, those players that fail to impress in South Africa or any country come back home and become stars. What does that tell you about our standard of football as a nation? We have to look into it and change the trajectory as a nation,” Nengomasha told FARPost.