KAPINI SLAMS DRINKING CULTURE AT SA CLUBS
THE issue of player behaviour and potential substance abuse has long been a topic of discussion in South African football.
Former AmaZulu FC goalie Tapuwa Kapini has added his voice to the debate, proposing a rather unconventional solution.
Kapini is currently in the books of the ABC Motsepe League side Highlands Park, who are drawn against his ex-club Sekhukhune United in the Nedbank Cup last 32.
The 39-year-old is a well-traveled goalminder, who played for teams such as AmaZulu FC, Platinum Stars, Highlands Park and Sekhukhune United.
Kapini has admitted that there are serious problems of alcohol abuse amongst players.
In recent times, several DStv Premiership clubs like Kaizer Chiefs and AmaZulu FC had to suspend or dismiss players for coming to training under the influence of alcohol.
The Zimbabwean goalkeeper has called on teams in the PSL to bring breathalysers to training, insisting that all players need to undergo tests before training sessions.
Kapini further suggested that players found intoxicated must face the music.
“This thing (alcohol abuse), especially within our professionals, our players need to be addressed,” he said at the Nedbank Cup Last 32 draw in Sandton.
“So if you know that you going out and you want to come and train, you’ll die on the field when you run. The problem will go to the coaches for not stopping you.
“I remember at Highlands Park; coach Owen Da Gama brought the breathalyser; even at Sekhukhune, they brought it.So I think those things have to be done at training, we know it’s not nice to have a breathalyser at training, but they have to do it because they are paying us salaries.
“Imagine if you work at the garage (filling station) you come drunk at work and someone gives you R200 to pour petrol and you pour R500. Who has to face the consequences? It’s management.
“As players, you need to make a choice and say no this is wrong and take care of themselves, you can’t keep on blaming the coaches.” — FarPost.
CAPTAIN Matthew Schonken fought a lone battle as Zimbabwe started their ICC Under-19 World Cup with a 39-run loss at the hands of Sri Lanka at the Diamond Oval in Kimberly yesterday.
Zimbabwe were bowled out for 89, as they chased the Asians total of 204 in a match disrupted by inclement weather.
It meant the Zimbabweans had to chase a revised target and lost through the DLS method.
Schonken scored 27 runs, the best return by a Zimbabwean batter.
The skipper first called it right, and elected to bowl first against Sri Lanka.
He said that his side had a variety of spin and pace options to bank on.
Kohl Eksteen backed that call with a wicket in his very first over.
Anesu Kamuriwo removed the other opener in the fourth over, to leave Sri Lanka in a precarious position.
A reconstruction was in order, and the fourth-wicket pair of Ravishan de Silva and Rusanad Gamage did the same.
The duo added 54 runs over the next 21.1 overs, even as the young Chevrons bowled with discipline to ensure that advantage didn’t swing the other way.
Panashe Taruvinga struck in the 26th over with the wicket of Gamage. He broke through the batters defences, and grounded his middle stump to bring Zimbabwe back at the helm.
Ryan Simbi then accounted for Ravishan de Silva in the 31st over to further their advantage.
Dinura Kalupahana batted with initiative to add some crucial runs in the middle overs.
He got good support from Sharujan Shanmuganathan, and Sri Lanka added 80 from 72 for the sixth wicket.
However, Kalpuhana’s fall to Schonken unravelled the Zimbabwe innings. The Asian side were bowled out for 204.
Sri Lanka fought back at the back of their spin prowess.
Vishwa Lahiru gave merely three runs in his opening spell of four overs, and brought the first breakthrough for Sri Lanka.
Malsha Tharupathi backed up by producing the second wicket, and then contributed in the third dismissal by taking a sharp catch off Kalupahana. Zimbabwe were placed at 30 when inclement weather stopped play.
While lightning forced the umpires to take the players off the field, rain followed soon after and caused an extended delay. — Sports Reporter/ ICC.
CAPS United president Farai Jere has been blown away by Nyasha Mushekwi’s benevolence after the China-based striker donated football boots worth over US$25 000 to his ex-club.
The former Warriors forward on Saturday took time to visit the Green Machine family at their training base in Harare and handed over more than 60 pairs of football boots to the players.
He also pep-talked them to value their careers as they could walk the same path he has walked in his rewarding football journey.
Mushekwi first arrived at Makepekepe as a raw striker he quickly got down to work and grew to become an accomplished goal-scorer.
He would soon attract interest from South African teams where he sparkled in the colours of Mamelodi Sundowns, before he was snatched by clubs in Swden, Belgium and China.
He has donated several items to the Green Machine, including purchasing a luxury bus which ultimately cost about US$170 000 to land here, for the team some three years ago.
“Nyasha Mushekwi is something else. His heart is warm. I have never seen anything like that. I have met so many good people but he stands head and shoulders above the rest.
“Since he left CAPS United he has never forgotten about the team.
“He is always speaking highly about CAPS United, the opportunity the team gave him. I don’t know how to describe him.
“Wherever he is, he is always thinking about the team. He always speaks to me saying he cherishes the life-changing chance that he was given by CAPS United.
“He always tells me how CAPS United transformed him from being a basketball player to be a footballer. He is very grateful”.*
Growing up under the custody of his grandmother, who didn’t want him to play football fearing that he would get injured, the bustling striker worked his way up in a short period of time.
He added:
“We would like to thank those who brought up this boy especially his late grandmother. “His love is something else. Most of the players he played with at CAPS United are working for him at his company in South Africa.
“He wanted to make it a surprise for me (donating the football boots) but I was already in my constituency doing something in Murehwa.
“Nyasha is always there for the team in good and bad times.
“I almost cried when I came back to see that everyone at the time got something including those who came to watch the team training. He brought at least 60 pairs of the soccer boots, real boots with a value of at least US$340 per pair.
“We are talking of something between US$25000 to US$35000 which he poured to the team if we are to put it into monetary terms.”