Munetsi giving 10% of his earnings to needy

JOHANNESBURG — As if to follow the biblical principle of the tithe, a former Orlando Pirates star is giving 10% of his income to the needy.

The tithe, a term from ancient English meaning ‘tenth’, is a custom dating back to Old Testament times. It was adopted by the Christian church whereby lay people contributed a 10th of their income for religious purposes.

The principle can be traced back to the Biblical tale of Abraham presenting a tenth of the war spoils to Melchizedek, the king of Salem [in Genesis].

In the Old Testament, Jews brought 10% of their harvest to a storehouse as a welfare plan for the needy.

Some modern-day believers still practice it, although the practice has been ridden with controversy.

However, that has not stopped Zimbabwe international midfielder Marshall Munetsi from giving to the needy.

Munetsi plies his trade in France for Stade de Reims and has attracted the interest of English clubs.

The 26-year-old, who recently wedded, donates part of his salary to 60 children back in his native home Zimbabwe.

The Warriors strongman revealed this in a Prime Video Sports interview conducted in French.

Through the Munetsi Foundation, the money pays fees for kids in the high-density suburb of Mabvuku, east of Harare. The foundation was established in 2020 and is based in the capital of Zimbabwe, Harare.

Munetsi has also donated kits to Kadyamadare Primary School in his home village in Mashonaland East.

“God gave me a talent. So I need to invest 10% of my salary in my Foundation to help 60 children in my country. In Africa, we don’t get things easy [so it is important to assist others],” he said.

Munetsi left Pirates in 2019 after penning a fouryear deal with the French side. He has established himself as a regular for the Ligue 1 outfit.

Reports in January linked him with Championship sides Watford and Burnley while earlier he was also linked with a move to Premier League side Brighton. The Zimbabwe international, capped 23 times, has impressed again this season.

He has bagged three goals and one assist in 16 Ligue 1 appearances. Mainly operating as a defensive midfielder, he has been credited for winning and progressing the ball quickly.

The talented Stade de Reims midfielder is also as active on the pitch as off it.

At the start of the year, he joined the FIFPro World Players Council to make the voice of players heard and move which bodes well, especially in his country of origin, which is currently suspended from international football since last year by FIFA due to government interference.

“I started getting involved in the Zimbabwe national union and then later in FIFPRO Africa when I started playing for the senior national team in 2018.

“They saw that I was a person who was not shy when it came to raising my voice and speaking up for others. Some footballers may be afraid or reluctant to raise their voices — which is completely normal, everyone is different — but for me it is important not to back down from issues that affect us as players, to rectify problems with solutions and thus help the next generation. Being a voice for others is something that has been with me since school, when I was deputy headboy.”

Munetsi said he is saddened by the country’s continued isolation from the international football family, which he says has negatively impacted the careers of many footballers in Zimbabwe.

“So many Zimbabwean players are being robbed of a great opportunity, so many players in their prime cannot play on the continental and international stage. But above all, the suspension of Zimbabwe has a negative socio-economic effect on the country,” he said.

“I think the federation should have done better when it came to discussing with FIFA and finding a possible solution so as not to affect the younger generation who are there – because the talent is there in Zimbabwe. The players who went to Europe proved it, just like me who plays here, in France.

“This month we could have played against World Cup semi-finalists Morocco – the only African side to ever reach the last four on the world stage – and it would have been a party. Their first competitive match after this historic World Cup run would have been against Zimbabwe. The country was robbed of what would have been such a special occasion. Thus, this standoff between the SRC and the association, which led to the suspension of the national team by FIFA, has a negative socio-economic impact on the country.” — FAR Post/Sports Reporter