Off the field with Eric Rosen

The Zimbabwean on Sundays Grace Chirumanzu speaks to Might Bulls owner Eric Rosen about some of the challenges of keeping the team in the hunt for honours. Excerpts:

Grace Chirumanzu (GC): Motor Action have been quite consistent this season, Do you feel this time round you will win the league?

Eric Rosen (ER): It has always been my dream to win the championship. But the bottom line is in any sport everyone wants to win. At the beginning of the year I addressed the players and said to them; look Im not just in the league for the sack of it, our ultimate goal is to win and that has been the aim from the onset.

Unfortunately I promised something I kind of regret today, I offered a bonus structure which was dependent on the log standings and it was to begin from the fifth game. We have topped since that game and I have been in trouble financially; but as much as it hurts me financially I dont want to lose.

GC: With Dynamos breathing down your neck, you really should be feeling the pressure?

ER: Not at all, it is Dynamos that is under pressure not Motor Action. We have the points and they have games in hand, so they have to convert those into points.

GC: To what would you attribute the strength shown by Mighty Bulls on the field this season?

ER: I think it is more of the good technical team that we have, we have not had a coach for more than a year and that has been a problem when we had to change coaches in the past. They were all coming with their own players too.

But our strength has also been a matter of a good team that goes well with that technical side. They (players) have no problems whatsoever, they are focused and have been getting their bonuses every week. There is a unity of purpose, the moral is good and their behaviour has been excellent. So I certainly hope we will clinch the title.

GC: What would you say is the toughest challenge running a soccer club in Zimbabwe today?

ER: I think all clubs are going through a difficult financial problem because the crowds have dwindled and the expenses continue to escalate. The crowds are decreasing because big clubs like Dynamos and Highlanders no longer attract a big crowd any more.

There were times when we played Highlanders and the ground was filled to capacity and if one has a full house of 20 000 people at US$3 that will be US$60 000 and that can take a club for at least five games. We cannot certainly run away from the fact that to motivate the players one needs to give them money.

GC: But do you actually manage to make profits some of the times?

ER: Absolutely no profits at all! Its a total loss of money, its money that will never come back.

GC: So what keeps you in this business?

ER: Well, one keeps hoping that change will come. Like now we have two sponsors who are promising for next season and these are the promises that keep one hoping that change will come. South African football has a very good example of what we need here; there are no big crowds -maybe only now after the World Cup- but all teams rely totally on sponsorship.

FACTFILE

Full names: Eric Anthony Rosen

D.O.B: 6 April 1946

P.O.B: Bulawayo

Club: Motor Action

Position: President