Safety net for SA-based Zim players, legends
CURRENT and former South Africa-based Zimbabwean footballers have every reason to smile following the formation of an entity by some legends of the game to look after their general welfare in the neighbouring country.
Over the years, Zimbabwean footballers have been finding it hard to navigate the terrain down south with some of them losing everything they would have worked for due to ill-advised decisions while others have died paupers.
Others have been short-changed by agents resulting in them signing unfavourable contracts.
But all that is set to come to an end after the formation of the SA-based Zim Legends forum which has already been registered as a company in South Africa. Chairman of the organisation and former Warriors man Alexander Maseko said Zimbabwean players, both current and former, decided to come together to find a lasting solution to the problems facing them.
The organisation is scheduled for launch this Saturday in Johannesburg
with Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to South Africa David Hamadziripi expected to preside.
“As the Zimbabwe football legends living in South Africa, we sat down and sought to do some introspection.
“We realized that we were doing nothing to help ourselves as former footballers and/or current footballers in South Africa.
“So after some careful deliberations, we decided to form the SA-based Zim Legends forum which we have since registered as a company here in South Africa,” said Maseko.
“We are compiling a database where both former and current footballers will fit in. As former footballers, what we are concerned about is looking after each other. The same applies to current footballers”.
He said active players needed to be represented by those who have been in the trenches.
“As much as we will look after one another, we will also ensure that all Zimbabwean footballers coming to play in South Africa are adequately taken care of.
“I mean we will be the go-between for the players and the clubs signing them. We don’t want a situation whereby players are represented by agents who just take their percentage and leave the player.
“But we will be there to ensure that players who encounter problems get the necessary help as we will also be working with counsellors, legal practitioners, and psychologists.
“It is all about looking after our own. In the past, we have seen players losing everything they would have worked for and things like that. We will be here to protect all that including giving financial advice and the dos and don’ts when they are still active.
“The organisation will also ensure that no former footballer is buried like a pauper. We have also engaged our all-weather friends in the corporate world like Zororo-Phumulani who have provided free funeral cover for all our members.
The initiative has received so much support from stakeholders and we are eager to go”.
Zororo-Phumulani executive marketing manager Tendai Mangoti hailed the initiative and reassured that his company will be ready to chip in wherever there is a need.
The repatriation entity is bankrolling the dinner on the launch.
“This is a great initiative by the Zimbabwe football legends and as a Zimbabwean company based in South Africa, we saw it prudent to chip in and give support.
“We already have a sound relationship with the former Zimbabwe footballers based in South Africa as all of them have free funeral cover from us,” said Mangoti.
“We will continue looking into different other ways to help them as we are keen to see them succeed in their endeavours”.