HARARE -- For the past five years, she has been sharpening the Bulls horns hoping that one day she will together with his husband watch them bulldoze their way to the top. (Pictured: Liz Rosen -- Motor Action Football Club co-director and supporter)
Her passionate love for the worlds most famous sport is evident at every venue their Bulls are on the field. During matches she can be seen alternating between intensely monitoring the action on the field and shouting and cheering on the Bulls to go for the kill.
But her affection for the Bulls does not end at match venues. The 60-year-old woman opened a restaurant to raise funds for his team in a country sponsors have neglected football and various sports due to economic challenges.
This is the story of Liz Rosen, a co-director of the team that is currently on the top of the premier soccer league log table, Motor Action Football Club, popularly known as Mighty Bulls.
A visit to the Bulls Kraal, a restaurant serving mouth-watering traditional dishes in Harares Eastlea suburb was welcomed by some proud peacocks spreading a splendid fan of tail-feathers.
The set up of the three-months-old eatery explain how serious Rosen is for a successful business not only in football but in the catering industry.
The Bulls Kraal serves rice, sadza with tripe and casings, pumpkin leaves, beef stew, chicken stew and various appetising traditional meals, some of them on request by their customers. Its cheapest meal is a $US5-two-meat dish.
I started thinking big, hoping for people to come in their numbers to support this idea so that the money we get goes to support the soccer team. With hardly any sponsorship we thought it was a great idea that could help the team, Rosen said.
I talked to other soccer clubs to bring their teams, appealed to Twine Phiri (Caps United director and PSL chairman), Eagles and Dynamos as well. I asked them if they could bring their players for lunch before games and Im looking forward to some positive responses.
Finding a good sleep after Motor Action or the English Premiership club Manchester Uniteds loss is a mission impossible for Liz. Ironically, though united in matrimony and in their undying love for the Bulls, Eric is a staunch supporter of the Alex Ferguson-managed teams archrivals, Liverpool.
Stalemates between the two teams appear the only result that can keep this couple together in peace, but Liz explains she knows where to draw the line when dealing with a mans emotions.
Its so bad after a loss and sometimes Eric and I ask each other can soccer affect you so badly? and sometimes he has to get a drink to try and get some sleep and get over it and the next morning we wonder whether we must we go and buy the newspaper and we are hesitating because you dont know what they will be saying, she said.
Football is generally believed to be a mens game with more media focus given to the mens FIFA World Cup than the womens version of the competition. But Liz who wishes more women are given positions in football, has always risked being called a lunatic in this male-dominated sport when she shouts Bhuruuuuu!! caring less what people think and more for the victory of the Joey Antipas-coached team.
For me to come to a soccer match and sit quietly watching, ooh I would rather stay home and do my garden, said Liz.
Winning the championship will be like a reward to the time and money we have put into this club over the years. It has always been Erics dream to win locally and play in the Champions League. I remember his words, he said I will never give up football until I go to Accra to play Hearts of Oak.
Motor Action was established in 2000 from the ashes of Black Pool. The Mighty Bulls first match in the top flight league was against Darryn T, which they won 3-0.
Post published in: Football