Grace Chirumanzu (GC): The 2008 Premier Soccer League was certainly not
the best for Caps United and there have not been many changes to the
team this year. How do you think the team will fare this season?
Edmore Sibanda (ES): Something funny about football is that it relies
on the players' frame of mind. Last year we were affected by a number
of things, from the relationships with the coach to the players not
putting their mind in the game. I would not really know why this was so
since I came to Caps United at midseason, but I only know this year it
is different. Players are serious about their game and this year we
have goals, one of them which is to do well in the Confederations Cup.
GC: Caps United fans have come to rely on you, calling you ZiKeeper
redu, does it not give you pressure to perform on the field of play?
ES: It is not the first time fans have come to rely on me, it was the
same at Chapungu (FC) but I always make sure that I do not let it get
into my head when I am on the field playing. I do not want to play to
impress the gallery because the moment I start doing that it will give
me pressure, I just strive to do what is best for the team.
GC: Your critics say that you did not perform to your best against
Egyptian side, ENPPI in the first leg; they say performance yako yanga
yakadhakwa (was very poor). What do you say to that?
ES: One thing people should know is that we play under instructions,
fans are used to seeing a goalkeeper kicking the ball far upfront and
when he doesn't it is strange to them. But the thing is I always try to
play to the coach's instructions.
GC: I will not ask you if you are really 22-years-old but on the issue
of the Under-17 national team, do you think what happened was the best
thing to do? Should we blame Rodwell Dhlakama on it because surely he
must have known he had a bunch of cheats in his camp?
ES: I can't really comment much on that but I believe it was good that
the players just went out of camp and screened themselves out because
its better we know we have a real Under-17 team, than to lie to
ourselves.
GC: Many people see soccer players as arrogant, careless and generally
disorganised about their careers or even private lives, what do you say
about this characterisation of players?
ES: Well I do not really look much into what people think or say
because I have to live my life. So, as long as anything they say will
not affect me, I do not mind. I just make sure I'm happy with my own
life.
GC: Who at Caps are you close friends with?
ES: I am close to almost everyone but I think I'm closer to Tafadzwa
Rusike, Oscar (Machapa), Nyasha Mukumbi and Method Mwanjali.
GC: How is Lloyd Chitembwe as a coach?
ES: I can say he is an honest man, he is the one to tell you directly
that you messed when you do. He does not lie to anyone if one performs
well he tells him when it is a poor performance he says so.
GC: But he (Chitembwe) seems not to see eye to eye with your fellow
teammate and friend, Method Mwanjali, does it not affect your game?
ES: I think they are professionals; they have come to understand that
football is football, when we meet on the pitch; it is different from
when we meet off the pitch.
Axed Simmons wants US$400 000 compensation
JOHANNESBURG — The ghost of former coach Phil Simmons has returned to
haunt Zimbabwe Cricket following revelations that he is seeking
restitution of around US$400 000 for his dismissal in 2004.
Simmons was sacked a year into a three-year contract he signed with
Zimbabwe Cricket, on allegations of insubordination. He was said to be
defying orders from the board.
According to Cricinfo, Simmons' lawyers are said to have written to
Zimbabwe Cricket claiming the amount that is reportedly equivalent to
what the coach would have earned over the two years he was yet to serve
when he was fired.
From the outset, Simmons maintained he had been unfairly dismissed, but
had apparently refrained from discussing the matter with the media for
fear of prejudicing his case.
Privately, he is said to be livid at the way he was summarily sacked and the fact that he has not been compensated in any way.
Meanwhile, it has also emerged that the contract between Simmons and
Zimbabwe Cricket is governed by English law and so could be pursued
through courts in Britain.
Should Simmons opt to have the matter heard in UK courts and should he
win the case then he would probably seek to enforce the judgment
through the International Cricket Council (ICC). — CAJ News
More than 1.5 million 2010 World Cup tickets sold
ZAKUMI – The South African mascot for 2010 out with the childrren
BY MXOLISI NCUBE
JOHANNESBURG – More than 1.5 million tickets had been sold at the close
of the first phase of ticket sales for the 2010 FIFA World Cup,
according to the local organising committee (LOC) in South Africa where
the tournament will be played.
The first phase of ticket sales for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South
Africa ended at midnight on 31 March with applications for a total of
1,635,136 tickets since tickets first went on sale on 20 February
2009, the LOC said in state statement last week.
Approximately 30% of the applications have come from South African residents, with 70% from the rest of the world.
The statement added that the applications were received from 205
countries, with tickets for the opening match and the final, scheduled
for Johannesburg 's Soccer City stadium, on July 11, 2010 being on
highest demand.
Team specific ticket series applications account for more than 50 per
cent of the applications. There were no problems experienced with the
order procedures during the first ticket sales phase, it said.
The LOC added that the highest number of ticket applications came from
residents in South Africa, followed by those from the USA, the United
Kingdom, Germany, Italy and Australia.
The applications received will now be entered into a random selection
draw that will be held on April 15, 2009, according to the organising
committee.
Applicants will be informed, either via email or SMS, by the end of
this month at the latest, letting them know whether their application
was successful or not. Further details on the first round of
applications will be made available after all the data has been
processed following the draw.
It is very pleasing to see the huge global interest in the first
African FIFA World Cup. We want to encourage even more South Africans
and Africans to apply for their FIFA World Cup tickets during the next
sales phase, so they do not miss out on this unique once-in-a-lifetime
experience, the committee said.
Meanwhile, the LOC reported that the ticketing application site –
www.FIFA.com will remain closed until the second sales phase, which is
expected to start on May 4, 2009, and will then remain open until
November 16.
After November 16, tickets will be sold on a first come, first served basis and subject to availability, according to the LOC.
Post published in: Zimbabwe Sports News