Renowned agent hunts for striker
AT a time local football authorities are yet to give guidelines on how clubs should deal with expiring player contracts during the Covid-19 lockdown, renowned agent George Deda is hunting for strikers to export to East Africa and the cash-rich Arab world.
Deda, who has established strong contacts in East Africa, particularly Tanzania where he has facilitated moves for former Highlanders’ winger Bruce Kangwa, national team midfielder Tafadzwa Kutinyu and Never Tigere, announced on Facebook yesterday that he is looking for a striker between the ages of 22 and 26 years.
Deda is one of the country’s only five recognised player intermediaries and also has links in Zambia and West Africa. He indicated that he is looking for a striker with national team caps, who is about to be a free agent or is in the last year of his contract.
“Looking for a young good striker aged between 22 and 26 years. Please inbox with good videos. Preferably a free agent end of this month August or should have less than one-year contract. A youth international or with (senior) national caps preferred. Must be strong and very quick,” wrote Deda on his Facebook timeline.
Zimbabwe has few youth international strikers plying their trade in the local league, which has been on hold due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Among strikers that are in the age-range Deda is looking for are last year’s Soccer Star of the Year second runner-up Prince Dube of Highlanders, Chicken Inn’s Obriel Chirinda, Triangle United forward Delic Murimba, Harare City’s Wilfred Muvirimi as well as Caps United’s Mandla Mlilo.
All these players have contracts that either expire at the end of the year or are in the last 12 months.
At the beginning of the year, Dube and Murimba attracted strong interest from China and Dube even went for trials, although nothing materialised.
Responding to Deda’s Facebook post, former Warriors players Cephas Chimedza and Alois Bunjira said it would be difficult for the agent to get a talented striker without a contract.
“But the good players are not free though,” wrote Bunjira.
Belgium-based Chimedza said: “I have had such discussions with some people, they contact me and say I have a good player, he is free. And I’m thinking it’s difficult to convince a team that a boy in Zimbabwe who is very good is unattached.”
Bosso striker Tinashe Makanda (26), whose contract expired in June alongside teammate Brian Banda, who reportedly signed a precontract with champions FC Platinum at the beginning of the year, is among a host of footballers hoping to cash in on new deals at financially viable clubs.
The PSL has since approached the Footballers Union of Zimbabwe (Fuz) and the World Leagues Forum for advice on how best clubs can be protected since they have been paying players without action.
“We have received enquiries from some clubs on how expired or expiring player contracts are to be handled. It was our hope that the national association (Zifa) would come up with a clear policy position.
“Since there have been no clear guidelines from the FA, we have engaged the Footballers Union of Zimbabwe to discuss a win-win situation.
“We have further engaged the World Leagues Forum to give us guidance,” wrote PSL chief executive officer Kennedy Ndebele in a letter to clubs dated July 29. — @ZililoR
FORMER Bush Bucks defender William Mugeyi has explained why he didn’t entertain any offers from the big teams in South Africa.
Mugeyi, the twin brother of Wilfred ‘Silver Fox’ Mugeyi, enjoyed a sterling career at Bucks after arriving from Zimbabwe in 1993.
“To be honest, why I turned down playing for big teams you know, one thing I realised is that most of these big teams during our time they were not paying good money,” Mugeyi told KickOff.com.
“I was happy with what I was earning at that time at my former team. So, you only find that most of the players are only playing for pride, because you are just playing for a big team. But financially you find most players were struggling. I only realised you know my team pays good, more than some of these so-called big teams during our days. So this is what prompted me to stay with Bush Bucks because financially I was quite happy.
“You’d find that some teams would want you and give an offer, only to find that the offer is just peanuts.
“When you tell them you know this is what I’m earning it was shocking to them to hear that my team Bush Bucks was paying huge salaries. So this is why I realised that it is just better for me to stay with Bush Bucks and make a name for myself.
“Ya I think in 1993 when I joined the team, I was earning probably something like R5 000 to R6 000 a month, and that was a lot of money, things were very cheap and life was easy. R200 could last you for the whole month. You could save and buy a car within three months.
“To be honest saving money was very easy. You know my lifestyle was very simple, I never drank, I never smoked, I never went out clubbing or enjoyed outside life and all those kind of things. Even though it was not big as what players are earning today.
“But you find today’s players can’t even buy a house. All they do is buy cars and fancy things and stuff like that. But when you look where he is, he is renting but earning a big salary.”
Mugeyi revealed he received a healthy wage when he started his football career in Zimbabwe at Circle United and Black Aces in Harare.
“The club was under a big, big company that produced cement probably for the whole country. So we were getting big salaries.
“In Zimbabwe you know during that time we were just young you know, 17-18, just coming from school. You wouldn’t even dream of driving a car that time. Cars used to be driven by teachers you know, and doctors.
“I only bought a car when I came to South Africa. I joined Bush Bucks in 1993, it was mid-season. At Bush Bucks we used to train very hard, we used to climb mountains, doing everything that is very strenuous. That is why we were very, very fit.
“The Independence Stadium used to be a slaughter house, because we knew that we can run until they get tired. Our fitness level was above most of the teams.”
The former Zimbabwe international opened up about why he always had a serious face during matches.
“You hardly see defenders smiling, there’s no time for smiling, what is it that you are smiling about? You have to wear a baboon face for strikers to be scared of you,” he reckoned.
The 51-year-old retired in 2005 at the age of 35 following advice he received from his bosses at Bush Bucks to go into coaching.
“I won the Coca-Cola Cup in 1993. In 1996 we won the Coca-Cola Cup again. In 2000 I won the Cosafa Cup as a captain (of the Warriors). Then I retired in 2005. I’m proud of what I’ve achieved, I don’t have any regrets. All I wanted was just to play football and enjoy myself, which I did.
“I’m not married, I got divorced three years ago. I’ve got five kids, three girls and two boys. My first one she’s 29, and the second one is 27, the third one is 25, the fourth one is 20 and the fifth one is 15.
“I’m based in East London. The place is so quiet, peaceful, not so violent. Life is so simple in East London. I’m running a development. I named it after my name Mugeyi, where I have youngsters from 13 years up to 20. That’s what keeps me busy.
“I charge a small fee for development and that’s where I earn my living. I’m selfemployed. So at least I know it puts food on the table. As a man you can’t just sit and fold your hands and wait for manna from heaven.” — KickOff