ALWYN MABEHLA
LATELY, Zimbabwe’s Premier Soccer League (PSL) has been a horror show, with potential to set a dangerous precedent for many years to come.
2023 was probably one of the worst in the history of the local game.
Almost all teams – perhaps save for current champions Ngezi Platinum Stars and their 2023 runners-up Manica Diamonds – produced thoroughly dispiriting performances.
Football’s excitement is judged by the value that fans attach to it.
On last season’s roaster, Harare had a total of seven teams – CAPS United, Dynamos, Herentials, Black Rhinos, Cranborne Bullets, Yadah, and Simba Bhora. Disappointingly, for larger parts of the season, they all at one point had to play their home games in Gweru, Bulawayo, Mhondoro and Zvishavane due to poor infrastructure in the capital city.
Such chaotic arrangements meant these sides were hit hard financially, equally their supporters.
This season, a new cankerworm – match officials – has emerged. It is eating into the little life of what remains of Zimbabwean football.
Resultantly, a diplomatic war between local coaches and the league authorities has emerged.
Post-match media duties by coaches are turning into side-splitting demonstrations really. In the spirit of fair play, coaches are supposed to address the media, whether they are on the losing or winning end.
However, almost all local coaches whether by choice, fate or any other reason, are somehow failing to express their true feelings for the fear of putting the name of the league in disrepute.
As a media person, I wouldn’t want to interview a coach who minces his words in a post-match briefing because they fear the league will descend on them.
Chicken Inn coach Joey Antipas and CAPS United’s Lloyd Chitembwe are the high-profile coaches who have been on the receiving end of league’s wrath after making what was deemed unsportsmanlike comments in the media.
And now, it seems like a culture for all coaches to select their words carefully for the fear of reprisals.
Shockingly, out of all complaints raised by disgruntled teams against referees and their assistants, not even one of them has been reprimanded.
Is it a case of match-officials failing to “officiate” themselves into order?
A few seasons back, FC Platinum coach Norman Mapeza even went as far as threatening to quit the game in frustration over poor officiating.
In the history of the PSL, this – truly speaking – has been the worst. And we might not have seen the last of it.
Recently, PSL boss Kenny Ndebele said the clubs should follow a laid-out procedure of laying out complaints against match officials. But we all know it is a PR statement.
At the end of the day, the media are being short-changed in this cold war and it is high time that authorities and coaches smoke the peace pipe.
