Followers

Friday, July 25, 2008

Latest CBZ PSL Log standings

TEAM

Played

Won

Drew

Lost

G/F

G/A

Points

1

Monomotapa

16

11

1

4

27

21

34

2

Njube Sundowns

16

9

1

6

27

20

28

3

Highlanders

16

7

6

3

24

10

27

4

Motor Action

16

9

2

5

18

17

27

5

Dynamos

15

7

6

2

17

11

27

6

Chapungu

16

6

5

5

21

14

23

7

Kiglon

16

5

7

4

17

15

22

8

Shooting Stars

16

6

3

7

15

17

22

9

Lengthens

16

6

2

8

20

22

20

10

Masvingo United

16

5

5

6

14

21

20

11

Underhill

16

5

4

7

24

33

19

12

Gunners

16

4

4

8

18

21

17

13

CAPS United

16

4

5

7

17

21

17

14

Eastern Lions

16

4

5

7

13

18

17

15

CAPS FC

16

3

6

7

16

20

15

16

Lancashire Steel

15

3

4

8

15

24

13



TOP GOAL SCORERS:

PLAYER & TEAM

GOALS

Evans Chikwaikwai (Njube Sundowns)

15

Cuthberth Malajila (Highlanders)

12

Edward Sadomba (Dynamos)

10

Nyasha Mushekwi (CAPS United), Daniel Zokoto (Monomotapa)

7

Tawanda Nyamandwe (Kiglon), Douglas Zimbago (Highlanders)

6

Simon Chipunza (Lancashire Steel), Charles Chiutsa (Monomotapa)

5

Thanks Tengwe (Gunners), Patrick Tom (Sundowns), Kudakwashe Musharu (Underhill)

4

 

 

Mapeza remains humble

Former Warriors defensive midfielder, 36-year-old Norman Mapeza, may not be promising the title for Monomotapa players but his charges have learnt a lot from their head coach. Off field Mapeza is a down to earth gentleman, in contrast to the short-tempered and vocal head coach usually seen at Dzivarasekwa stadium.

 

G.C What has been the secret behind Monos’ success?

N.M In football there are what are called the three ‘D’s, that’s discipline, determination and dedication. Discipline on and off the field comes first and it is something I brought to the club, my boys know what I tell them about going to the refs when one is not a captain, I’m against that. There is also unity; I have a good relationship with my assistant and the team manager.

G.C Speaking of referees, how have you find the standard of refereeing in Zimbabwe, would you say there was a time Monos was robbed of a victory due to poor refereeing?

N.M One thing we should understand is referees are human and they do make mistakes at times, they need us as much as we need them. Its pointless for teams to complain about referees when they would have not even made any attempts to score, they should score 10 goals and watch the referee call them all off and then everyone would know they have been cheated.

G.C You had a false start of the season, losing your first four games. What was the problem then?

N.M We were really playing well in those first games, it was only that luck was not on our side.

G.C Normally when a team is not doing well, they risk their coach’s job. How were your bosses taking it? Did they give you any conditions?

N.M No, it never was like that. They were appreciating that the boys were doing their best and like I said it was a matter of not being lucky enough.

G.C You helped Monos survive relegation last year and this season the boys are enjoying life at the top of the log. Do you believe you are the man to help Monos win the title this year?

N.M It is still too early to talk of the championship. There are still about 45 points at stake and every team is still in with a big chance; even if Lancashire is to win their remaining matches they will make it.  We are taking each game as it comes and our main aim is to win all our matches.

G.C You hardly sit on the bench when your team is playing, even when you are winning. Many have seen you to be too serious as a coach.

N.M Yes I’m a serious coach because I want to win, I hate losing that’s why. Just like in everything we do in life, if we want to achieve anything we have to be serious. I have time to make jokes but if it is during a match or training, I’m always serious.

G.C There were issues of you exchanging words with Valinhos during a national team training,  the reports never featured your voice, what is your side of the story?

N.M There wasn’t anything like that; those people don’t know what happened. I don’t have a problem with Valinhos; there wasn’t anything like exchange of words. I still have respect for him.

G.C Tell us of your dream Norman?

N.M My dream is to win titles as a coach. I have done well as a player, winning medals, shields and trophies but I have not yet achieved titles as a coach.

G.C Which young players do you see with a promising future in Zimbabwe?

N.M Aah..! It is really difficult to tell these days. You see the problem in Zimbabwe is that we don’t have junior leagues where you can easily identify talented youngsters. I think clubs should have a strict junior policy where they will have U/14, U/16 and U/18 teams using the right players in the correct age groups. Back in my days we used to play in the junior leagues and we knew each other with the likes of Lloyd Chitembwe and different players from the other clubs. We had a consistent national team from the juniors to the seniors and it was easy to identify young and talented players.

G.C How do you feel seeing your former club, Caps United, struggling in the league?

N.M I had a good time when I was at Caps United. When a big team struggles it affects everyone who is associated with it, but it is something that happens in football. I hope things will be well for them.

G.C Tell us of your memories in the national team?

N.M It was when we beat Cameroon at the National Sports Stadium in 1993; we won 1-0, Agent Sawu scored. It was my first game with the national team at home; of course my international debut was in Zambia. Cameroon had all their best players in the team and they had previously participated in the 1990 World Cup in Italy.

 

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Maringwa soldier on

Maringwa Continues to Defy Odds [interview]

Harare, May 01, 2008 (The Herald/All Africa Global Media via COMTEX) --
JUST when many people thought he would throw in the towel and hang up his boots after being weighed down by a spate of injuries that followed a horrific knee injury he suffered in 2000, veteran Dynamos midfielder Desmond Maringwa has defied all odds and soldiered on.
Only last Sunday, Maringwa turned back the hands of time to the days when he was a raw teenager, when he illuminated Gwanzura with a vintage midfield show that inspired Dynamos to a crucial 1-0 victory over African Champions Etoile Sportive Du Sahel.

The 29-year-old Maringwa, who shrugged off injuries in the second half of last season to help Dynamos win a rare league and cup double, this week spoke about his time at DeMbare, the only club he has played for in his long career.
How does it feel having completed a remarkable recovery to play a part in Dynamos' league and cup double success last season?
Well! It really felt great to be part of the Dynamos team that won the league championship after 10 years.
To me it meant a lot because I was also in the team that had last won it in 1997. After the terrible injury, I spent three years without playing but I kept on praying to God and I said Lord please give me another chance to play and I thank the Lord for affording me that opportunity again.
What would you say was the turning point of your career after you had fully recovered and resumed playing?
I was really dogged by more injuries when I came back, maybe I had not fully recovered when I resumed playing because there was no balance in the muscle bulk of my legs.
The one that got injured (left knee) was a bit weak and even up to now it has changed the way I walk or run.
At times when people see me limp it is not that I would be in pain now but unfortunately I now run and walk with a limp as a result of that injury but I have fully recovered.
I think the turning point was in August last year after I had had a slow start to the season due to a quad muscle problem, which kept me out for another two months. I had played in the first six weeks of the season. When I came back in August there was no looking back and I was happy to play in the league and cup matches but I have had consultations with my doctor and I still have to go to South Africa for a review when we return from Tunisia.
Many players in your predicament would have long decided to hang up their boots, so what is it that drives you?
It is the passion, the commitment and the love that you have for whatever you want to do in life, no matter how hard it is.
I took it as a challenge so if you do not meet challenges in life you will not achieve your goals.
What happened to me really made me stronger as an individual.
But what is the secret behind your decision to stick with Dynamos in good and bad times?
It is really very funny because I grew up supporting CAPS United, I was so fanatic about them and I would cry if they lost. But it changed some time when I was still at school and I was amazed by Dynamos' huge following and I felt it would be nice if I played for all those supporters and that swayed my decision to go and train with the Dynamos Under-13 team.
From then on I decided that I would stick with this team but nobody knows what the future holds maybe I will leave Dynamos one day but they will always be my home.
You graduated from the Dynamos juniors; do you sometimes feel frustrated when you do not see a lot of the young players coming from the system?
It is really disturbing because there are so many great players who came from the junior system at Dynamos. I think it is only the system that needs to be corrected and I am sure that is addressed because we now have Elvis Chiweshe, who is fully in charge and has a couple of coaches working with him.
Hopefully it will produce results and we will see more players coming from there.
You have been rewarded with the vice-captaincy of the team, is this something that you expected given your long service to the club?
It is really not an issue to me because there was a time when I was offered the captaincy and I declined because I thought they needed to bring in somebody younger to carry the team and I would only come in to help as a senior player. In fact, because of my experience and the fact that I am always helping the other players I have always regarded myself as one of the team's captains.
One might say it has to do with my long service to but I think because of my on and off situation through injuries it would have been tough for the coaches to make me captain because they would have to debate whether I would always be there as captain.
So what are some of the highlights of your long career with Dynamos?
The time that we played in the Champions League final in 1998. It really gave me a feeling of what football is like and the time I played in the Warriors showed me what football entails.
Because I was playing in a team with a lot of senior and experienced players... Murape Murape and myself were the only juniors then, it made me grow up faster in the game because I learnt a lot from all those seniors.
How did it feel scoring that important winner against Etoile Du Sahel at Gwanzura?
It was great. I don't score that many goals but all the time it is all about the team because the result is what is important for me. It is not much of an issue who scores, what satisfies me is whether we would have played well as a team and done the right thing.
So how has been the reception from the club's fans after that goal?
They are really excited about it and have been congratulating me but again I tell them that it is all about the team because Rueben (Mhlanga) sent in a good cross from the left too. But it is still very tough for us because in Africa you have to concentrate highly for 90 minutes.
Having been part of the 1998 and 1999 squads that reached the mini-league, how long do you think it will take Dynamos to build such a formidable side?
It really takes courage and mental strength on the part of the players. Teamwork and team spirit also play a hand. In 1998 and 1999, we had so many experienced players some of whom knew that it was their only chance for success because they nearing the end of their careers. We had players in the 29-31 age group.
The current squad has youngsters but this is also a chance for them to market themselves and I think this can be to our advantage because they were really itching to play Etoile and test themselves against the big guys.
Right now they are all anxious to experience and feel what it is like to play a team like Etoile away from home and we are trying to bring in that experience and team spirit we had in 1998 and I am sure with that we can build another formidable side.
You have also been recalled to the Warriors, eight years on, what do you make of it?
It is a great honour and I give thanks to the coaches who have selected me and I will give my 200 percent effort whether it is for my club or my country.
If given a chance I will try to prove that I still have something to offer to the nation and I am itching to prove that I am up to it.
What lessons do you think some of the younger players can draw from your experience?
First and foremost, it is commitment. They have to have commitment and discipline. They also need to learn as much as they can about football because football takes you so much effort to reach the top but it takes you just a minute or two to relax and fall from grace.
So the youngsters need to have consistency and ask from the seniors who have been there already, it does not necessarily have to be seniors from their own clubs.
Having played in the Premiership for over a decade what do you think of the standard of the local game... is it improving?
I think firstly it has to do with the current economic situation but the kind of grounds we have in the country are not conducive for good football. They are so terrible and bumpy you can't really control the ball they way you want to. Of course, people might think it is the players but we need to improve the standards of the pitches first and the good players we have will show their game.
Shooting Stars, CAPS United, Highlanders, CAPS FC are all playing good football but if the pitches do not improve the standard will not come out well.
Although I cannot say the standard is improving I think it is still okay and considering that even as Dynamos we have done fairly well so far in Africa and that shows we are not too bad as a Premiership. I also believe if clubs are really sponsored well they will become motivated and players will give it their best, the players need to be provided with better training equipment too.
What, in your view, needs to be done to ensure the Young Warriors are as strong as your generation that would produce players who graduated into the senior team?
I think we must have continuity from the Under-17 right through to the top. Once you identify talent you must continue to build on the teams so that the national coach does not have a big problem assembling a team.
We should not be learning the basics at the senior team. This should be done at Young Warriors' level where you set time frames for the players to graduate into the Warriors.
Zimbabwean teams always do well to reach the finals of the Cosafa junior championships but after Under-23 they are always disbanded, I don't know why?
How have you as Dynamos players responded to the challenges of defending the Premiership title and playing on the continent?
The club has done well to acquire more players and I think there is enough cover so that if other players burn out or sustain injuries the depth will be there.
What do you think needs to be done when you travel to Tunisia for the return leg?
We really have to prepare very hard because the Tunisians use their home advantage very well but I think we have seen them now and we can plan for the game with the knowledge of how they play.
I must also say they are not a hard team to beat because we have seen their weaknesses and their strengths.
Have you thought about the possibility of the Confederation Cup should you lose to Etoile Du Sahel?
No, at the moment we are just looking at the game in hand. We have to finish the job first and see how it goes from there. We believe we can bring in a good result from there.
But are there any teams in the Premiership that you believe could possibly pose a threat to your bid to retain the championship?
It is really to early to tell but Highlanders, CAPS United, Motor Action and even pacesetters Kiglon are looking good but I don't see anyone taking it from us because we have a big squad and so many good players.
It will be so difficult to beat us for the championship.
Copyright (C) 2008 All Africa Global Media. All rights reserved
News Provided by COMTEX

Friday, July 11, 2008

Interview with Shooting Stars' Pride Tafirenyika

Factfile

Full names : Pride Tafirenyika
D.O.B :21/01/1984
Place of birth : Bindura
Position :Striker
Jersey number :5
Previous clubs : Harare United
Current club : Shooting Stars
Honors : 2007 Northern Region Division 1 soccer star of the year (Harare United)

Former Harare United player, Pride Tafirenyika, is a reliable striker the emerging league giants, Shooting Stars, take pride in. 24-year-old Tafirenyika is stunning on the field and a visit to the team’s training session reviewed a shy but friendly off-field Tafirenyika in an interview with Grace Chirumanzu.

G.C What drives you most to play football?
P.T Just the passion to play the game.
G.C Who are your football legends locally and abroad?
P.T Clemence Matawu and Christiano Ronaldo.
G.C How do you think Shooting Stars will finish this season?
P.T We will be in the top five, and I think our win against Eastern Lions should be the start of good things.
G.C When you beat Dynamos in the semi-finals of the Independence Cup in April, you went on to outwit Highlanders in the final to lift the trophy. Did you believe it would happen?
P.T Yes we could see it coming, we had trained so hard that week and we really deserved it.
G.C Which defender would you say has always given you a tough challenge each time you face his side?
P.T Onisimo Bhasera. We played together since High School at Lord Malvern and we went together to Harare United, so he is someone who knows how I play very well.
G.C Do you ever look back in your career and say you wasted your talent?
P.T There was a time I went for trials in Poland and South Africa . I did well in South Africa and Hellenics wanted me, I came back for some time to finish the league matches with Harare United but there was news that Hellenics was relegated in S.A and Doc (Regis Zenga), the owned Harare United then, said I could not go there to play in D1. I now feel that was quite an opportunity, I should have just played there and I could have got recognized.
G.C What is your most heartbreaking moment in your career as your footballer?
P.T When I broke my left hand in 2006, I had an operation vakandiisa simbi. I had to stay off the field for three months and it disturbed my progress.
G.C Tell me a funny story from camp?
P.T We do enjoy ourselves a lot, Elvis (Meleka) and Thomas Magorimbo will be playing chikudo, Esau cracking jokes and Guthrie is a musician, he will be singing and dancing.
G.C Who from your team are you closest to off the field?
P.T Elvis Meleka
G.C Tell me of your dream Pride?
P.T It is to play football in Europe .
G.C If you had the power to make rules in the CBZ PSL what rule would you do away with or implement?
P.T Eish!.. the refs have cost us. They are taking football development back with their bias.
G.C Pride is not married, how would you describe your ideal woman?
P.T Someone slim and dark in complexion.
G.C All the best in your career Pride, thanks for your time.
P.T You are welcome Grace.

Thursday, July 10, 2008

Battle of the giants

(Gilbert Banda-Desmond Maringwa)

Premiership champions, Dynamos, are set to lock horns with heavyweights, Highlanders, in a potentially blistering encounter of the CBZ PSL match to be played at Barbourfields stadium, this Sunday. Bosso will be looking at maintaining their fine run and capitalizing on their points as De-mbare seek to prove something in a battle of the cities.

Interview with a cricket legend


He is Zimbabwe ’s hard hitting batsman of all times, loved by all and hated by none. Rising from a mere ODI debutant, scoring 115* against Sri Lanka in 1991, to an extraordinary sportsman enjoying life at the top of the world rankings with his unbeaten 145 runs against India in 2002. The description best fits veteran cricketer, Andy Flower, whom with his brother are affectionately known as the Flower Power. Grace Chirumanzu had this exclusive interview with Andy, who is now assistant coach of global cricket powerhouse, England.

Factfile
Full names :Andrew Flower
D.O.B :28 April 1968
Place of birth : Cape Town , South Africa
Batting style :Left hand bat
Bowling style :Right arm offbreak (wicketkeeper)
ODI Caps :213
Test Caps :63

G.C They say north, east, west or south home is best. Do you sometimes miss Zimbabwe ?
A.F I do miss Zimbabwe ! I am a Zimbabwean. I still have friends and family in Zimbabwe . My team mates, my family and I totally committed ourselves to the Zimbabwe cricket cause. We experienced tremendous highs and lows that you can only experience through total commitment.
G.C Who are you still in touch with from the Jeof Marsh coached Zim side when you played with the likes Neil Johnson, Murray Godwin and Henry Olonga?
A.F I keep in touch with Alistair Campbell, Dirk Viljoen, Craig Evans who still live in Zimbabwe . Of course I see my brother often, and chat with Henry on the phone every month or so .I bump into Neil Johnson and Murray Goodwin occasionally when our paths cross.
G.C Do you ever look back in your career and say you wasted your talent?
A.F No. If anything I would say that I maximized on the talent I had. There were many players I saw and envied their more obvious talent for moving athletically or for striking a ball.
G.C How is your brother Grant?
A.F Grant is well. He is playing for Essex in the County Championship in England . He is 38 now, so is contemplating retirement, which would enable him to begin his coaching career.
G.C Do you see yourself coaching cricket back in Zimbabwe one day?
A.F It’s a possibility. However there would have to be a change in the country’s leadership for that to happen. And for that matter, in the leadership of Zimbabwe Cricket. I would not work for the present leadership. I do not respect them as people or leaders.
G.C What do you make of the current Zimbabwean players? Do you think the young players have a future?
A.F I think the current Zimbabwean cricketers are exceptionally talented. However, I do feel sorry for them. They have no first class structure in which to learn their trade, and their international cricket is soon to be restricted.
G.C Of all the tours you have had so far, which one did you enjoy most?
A.F I used to love touring India . It has such a vibrant cricket culture that playing the game there is truly stimulating!
G.C Tell me a funny story you still remember from one of your camps in the Zimbabwean team with the other players?
A.F I remember Guy Whittal trying desperately to find his seat on an Australian flight. He was studying his boarding card intently, and wondering where seat QF 52 was. Quantas Flight 52 was in fact the flight number for the trip between Perth and Sydney ! (He’s going to hate me for telling that story!) He was probably badly hung-over!
G.C What is the craziest thing Andy has ever done?
A.F Leaving school and embarking on a career in accountancy! Or parachuting 5 minutes after Bryan Strang had jumped out before me…..and his chute had tangled, forcing him to deploy his emergency chute!
G.C Tell us of your family Andy?
A.F I have a wife , Rebecca, and 3 kids, Jamie, Sam and Danielle. You know about Grant. My parents also now live in the UK .
G.C What is your heartbreaking moment in Cricket?
A.F Probably retiring from Zimbabwe/International cricket prematurely in 2003. After the game I felt very emotional, but it was nice to have my brother and friends around to share the memories.
G.C What did you make of Zimbabwe ’s surprise victory over Australia in the T20 world cup, in South Africa last year?
A.F It was great to watch! They thoroughly deserved it. And it brought back memories of my own David and Goliath moments with Zimbabwe cricket.
G.C What is it that you tell your team when the going gets tough?
A.F To hang tougher ourselves. It is enjoyable to test yourselves in such times, as it is in those situations that one’s true character is revealed.
G.C When you are off the cricket field, what is it that you enjoy doing?
A.F I used to enjoy reading, and playing other sports. However, with a family, such time is limited. I do stuff with the kids now.
G.C When was the last time you were in Zimbabwe ? How often do you visit?
A.F I have not been back since I left in 2003. I want to visit Zimbabwe as soon as possible. I am Zimbabwean.