The South African Absa Premiership race is one day old and one can safely bet that come the end of the season in May, 2015, a Zimbabwean or Zimbabweans will have their hands on the trophy.
By Michael Kariati
There are more Zimbabwean footballers in the highly lucrative South African top flight football league than players from any other African country. Only a few clubs in the 16 team Absa Premiership family do not feature a Zimbabwean player.
Ask any Zimbabwean footballer in the Castle Lager Premiership today where he wants to go and play his professional football, and the answer will be South Africa.
Yes, there has been debate as to why Zimbabwean players are moving to South Africa as some consider the local Castle Lager Premier Soccer League to be better than the Absa Premiership.
But the truth is that there is no money in Zimbabwean football and if these players are not good enough for Europe, then why not play in South Africa.
Returned Dynamos striker Roderick Mutuma has been open enough saying although he is back in Zimbabwe his future and that of his family lies in South Africa.
“I am happy to be back home. Dynamos are a big club and I am happy to be back at Dynamos. But in life, there is more than just playing for a big team. The money is not good here and talking of my future after football, it is in South Africa where the money is,” said Mutuma.
Even the Zimbabwean clubs themselves are benefitting heavily by selling their players to South Africa. Take for example the case of Dynamos. They got US$80 000 for selling George Chigova to Supersport United yet stand to get only US$75 000 should they win the 16 team Chibuku Cup.
Coincidentally, the winners of the eight team One Wallet Cup will get US$80 000, the same amount that Dynamos sold one player for.
Although figures were not disclosed, there is a chance that former Warriors captain Partson Jaure could have been sold for far more than what the knockout tournaments are offering for the winning team.
The impact that Zimbabwean players have made in South Africa has been so terrific to the extent that such top clubs like the cash rich Mamelodi Sundowns and Kaiser Chiefs have the highest number of Zimbabwean players on their books.
Last season, it was Mamelodi Sundowns, then with three Zimbabweans Esrom Nyandoro, Khama Billiart, and Cuthbert Malajila, as well as manager Peter Ndlovu, who won the Absa Premiership title.
Coach Pitso Mosimane has this season added another Zimbabwean in the form of Kudakwashe Mahachi who could also add guile to the team should he not move to AS Monaco in the French league with OH Leuven.
The Mahachi factor is on top of Nyasha Mushekwi who has also returned to the club, giving the Brazilians a very strong Zimbabwean presence.
The previous season, it was Kaiser Chiefs then with Willard Katsande, Mathew Rusike and Kingstone Nkhata, who wrapped up the league title.
Amakhosi know the value that Zimbabweans add to their campaign that they have also roped in former Warriors midfielder Ovidy Karuru who was playing in France from OH Leuven on a three year deal.
Mupumalanga Black Aces have also not been left behind as they have recruited veteran Tinashe Nengomasha on top of the other cast of Zimbabweans they already had in the form of Energy Murambadoro and Tendai Ndoro.
In fact, the African Nations Championships held in South Africa saw a lot of movement as South African clubs were rushing to snap up Zimbabwean players in readiness for the rigours and pressure ahead.
Milton Ncube and Simba Sithole benefitted with moves to Ajax Cape Town.
Eric Chipeta went to Chippa United where he has also been joined by the Mubaiwa twins, Peter and Patrick, who made their mark while turning out for then northern region first division club Harare United.
Partson Jaure has gone to help Washington Arubi while Denver Mukamba fight the University of Pretoria cause.
The same can be said of goalkeeper George Chigova who has left Dynamos for Supersport United, joining another former Dynamos son, Kaitano Tembo who is on the team’s coaching staff.
Even less glamorous clubs like Maritzburg United have spent their money on Zimbabweans in the form of Terrence Mandiza and Khumbulani Banda with Bidvest Wits who at one time had their share of a high number of Zimbabweans having stuck to Onismo Bhasera who once played his club football in England for Plymouth Argyle.
Former Warriors captain Tapuwa Kapini is still at Amazulu where he has the company of the team’s club of the past season Carlington Nyadombo as well as Brett Amidu while Takesure Chinyama has also impressed at Moroka Swallows.
Bookmakers are prepared to offer odds that come the second transfer period that opens in January until the 31st of the same month, there will be more Zimbabweans in that league than there are now.
But the question is: Which Zimbabwean players will lead their team to the league title come the end of the season in May next year? The answer is not all that easy considering the fact that the Zimbabweans are scattered everywhere in the top league and in others below it.
