Ex-DeMbare boss speaks out

Langton Nyakwenda

THE Caf Interclub 2024/2025 season has reached its quarter-final stage, with North African teams solidifying their grip on both the Champions League and Confederation Cup competitions.

The line-up of teams was finalised 10 days ago, following an exhilarating conclusion to the group stages.

In the Champions League, six out of the eight quarter-finalists are from North Africa, including defending champions Al Ahly (Egypt), MC Alger (Algeria), Al Hilal (Sudan), AS FAR (Morocco), Esperance (Tunisia), and Pyramids.

South African powerhouses Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates complete the cast.

Similarly, in the Confederation Cup, five North African clubs have secured quarter-final berths: Al Masry and Zamalek (Egypt), CS Constantine and USM Algeria (Algeria), and RS Berkane (Morocco). ASEC Mimosas (Cote d’Ivoire), Simba SC (Tanzania), and Stellenbosch (South Africa) round out the line-up.

The two-legged quarter-finals for both competitions are slated for March and April. Notably, no Zimbabwean team has advanced to the knockout stage, a trend that has persisted for decades.

Winners of the 2023 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League title, Ngezi Platinum Stars, faltered in the first round of the Champions League, while Dynamos came within 90 minutes of reaching the group stage of the Confederation Cup.

Dynamos was the last club from Zimbabwe to reach the semi-final of the Champions League in 2008.

A decade earlier, DeMbare had reached the final under the guidance of legendary coach Sunday Chidzambwa.

Caps United came close in 2017 but could not sail past the group stages. FC Platinum also failed to progress beyond the group stage in 2019 and 2020.

Patson Moyo, former chairman of Dynamos, lamented the state of Zimbabwean football.

“The fact that Dynamos remain the only team to reach the final of the Champions League, a feat they achieved way back in 1998, shows you that our football has failed to progress,” said Moyo, who chaired Dynamos to the 2008 semi-finals.

Moyo attributed the lack of progress to inadequate structures that hinder sustainable growth. He expressed hope that the newly elected Zifa board, led by Nqobile Magwizi, would foster an environment conducive to transformation.

Most Zimbabwean clubs still fall short of meeting Fifa Club Licensing requirements, a crucial aspect of promoting professionalism in football worldwide.

Moyo congratulated Magwizi on his election and urged stakeholders to rally behind the new administration.

“Our football needs massive transformation because we are lagging behind. We need to get our football back on the world map, and this can only be attained if our clubs do well in Africa.”

The statistic that no Zimbabwean team has matched Dynamos’ 2008 semi-final achievement in the Champions League is a sobering reminder of the country’s stagnation in African football.

“That statistic is worrying, because it’s over 15 years ago, and by now, we should have moved forward,” said Moyo.

“In 2008 Dynamos were rated the eighth best team in Africa. Had we maintained that trajectory maybe by now our teams would be challenging for honours in Africa,” said Moyo.

The burly administrator is no longer involved in mainstream football as he now leads a company that recently secured a three-year air service permit and is planning to launch passenger and cargo flights to various destinations, including London.

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