The mere mention of the word “boozers” brings mixed feelings to Zimbabwean football followers. To some it will always invoke bad memories of players, including Warrior’s legend Adam Ndlovu who died in a road accident on their way to a boozers match in Victoria Falls with his brother Peter Ndlovu who survived the horror crash.
By Nyambira Chivasa
A few years ago, the nation had also been robbed of a young promising player, Watson Muhoni who died in a road accident on his way to a boozers football match.
These are some of the examples which will quickly bring bad memories each time football lovers hear the word “boozers”.
The word will however bring good memories to many other football followers. Boozers matches were in the past a hub of talent spotting where players were picked from non recognised leagues into big clubs.
Alois Ngwerume was spotted while playing for Raylton FC — a boozers team — and it did not take him time to take the football world by storm.
This gave soccer scouters the belief that players could be found everywhere a ball was being kicked. Young promising players who may have failed to attract the eye of scouters at club juniors also took the opportunity to grab another chance at the boozers clubs.
In the Eastern Region, Mucheke Social League, big companies that include Delta Beverages, Zinwa, Carswell Meats and Roselux Transport have thrown their weight behind local clubs that are in the running for the top league.
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The municipality of Masvingo and the Reformed Church in Zimbabwe now have teams that play in the social league.
Putting money behind a social team has just become an in-thing, forcing forced politicians to also join the bandwagon. Dzikamai Mavhaire sprung a surprise when he brought league sponsorship amounting to the tune of $1 500 which is set to be distributed to all teams on a sliding scale with winners getting the lion’s share.
Mavhaire also donated 18 balls which were given to each of the clubs in the league.
Standardsport caught up with Saul Chimbunde, secretary and player of Yetso FC to find out why the boozers league continued to hog the limelight.
“Boozers league has contributed a lot to Zimbabwean football especially in terms of player base,” Chimbunde said.
