Opinion / Columnist
Bosso v Dembare: Let Fair Play be the guiding principle
27 Oct 2013 at 06:31hrs | Views
FOOTBALL rivalries manifest themselves in many ways. Fierce conflicts between supporters, large media coverage, and high television viewing figures and, in some cases, bitter controversies can be both causes and consequences of high-profile rivalries.
The blockbuster affair between Bosso and DeMbare that culminates into a blood and thunder affair at Barbourfields Stadium this afternoon, is no exception.
In the midst of huge media coverage, expectations and predictions, we have witnessed a new breed of fortune tellers among ourselves in this soccer crazy nation.
Interestingly, but not surprising, ahead of this encounter, there has been an upsurge in a number of "soothsayers", with most of them being partisan.
One such fella who pretended to prognosticate future events was a Dynamos supporter I met at a watering hole in the city. Apart from predicting a Dynamos win, he said his team would go all the way to win the league championship.
"Dynamos just like their age have 50 bags of tricks that will make sure they win Sunday (today's) game and the league championship. The talk of Highlanders walking away with the accolade is not only far-fetched but is just a dream," he said
The Dynamos supporter was, however, dismissed by a Zvishavane-based Highlanders follower Kelvin Mbulo, who predicted that his side would win the tie on a 3-0 scoreline.
"We know the bags of tricks he is talking about. They are the referees who always assist them by either awarding them a dubious penalty or adding time so that they are not defeated. This time the whole world will be watching because Supersport will beam the game live and CAF will also be watching. As for us at Highlanders we are now riding a train dubbed 'must win game' and we are going to thrash Dynamos 3-0," he said.
But the two and et al will have to wait until shortly before 5pm at the end of what might prove the biggest match in the Premiership programme this year. And what makes this clash special is that it might have a huge bearing on who wins the championship.
The result will be hugely anticipated by the black and white half of the country more so as they felt that they were robbed in the reverse fixture. In that match at Rufaro, Highlanders led for a long period only to be denied by an equaliser scored by Partson Jaure deep in added time.
And what makes the match difficult to predict is that Bosso have just found their form and lead the race with a two-point advantage over DeMbare. But this is a crucial game for DeMbare.
Dynamos know that a win for the home side will see them open up a five-point gap, which might prove insurmountable to catch up.
History has it that Bosso have not beaten DeMbare in a league match in the past seven years, with their last victory coming way back in 2006, the year they were last crowned champions. They beat Dynamos in back-to-back victories, winning 1-0 in Harare and 2-0 in Bulawayo.
Some Bosso followers may say that history is nothing but assisted and recorded memory that will have no bearing on their team's chances today. But in those seven years it has been a tale of futile whistles of encouragement. Bosso lost six of their 13 league matches against DeMbare, with the other seven ending in draws.
However, ahead of this match, optimists say Bosso should draw inspiration from the fact that they are at the top of their game and that, crucially, they are unbeaten against DeMbare in the past four league games that all ended in draws.
Since the emergence of the modern day Premier Soccer League as an autonomous body in 1993, both Highlanders and Dynamos have won the coveted championship six times apiece. But Highlanders boast the enviable record of having won the league title four times in succession from 1999 to 2002, a feat that is yet to be matched by their adversaries today.
But whatever the outcome of the game, or whatever the predictions, our appeal to all those who will throng Emagumeni today is: Let's embrace the spirit of Fair Play. And let Fair Play be the guiding principle.
The FIFA Fair Play concept does not say matches should be won by hook and crook, but it means that respect should be part of the game. Without opponents there can be no game and that everyone has the same rights, including the right to be respected.
Teammates are colleagues and referees are there to maintain discipline and fair play.
We should always accept the referee's decisions without arguing, and help them to enable all the participants to have a more enjoyable game. Officials are also part of the game and must be respected accordingly.
Fans should give the game atmosphere: conduct themselves fairly by respecting themselves. What the game demands are genuine fans, people who have respect for property, safety of others, coaches, and even themselves.
Granted, referees do err sometimes, coaches can make unpopular decisions but surely there are civilised ways of making one's feelings known and resorting to violence is certainly not one of them.
The challenge to all those who love "the most beautiful game" is let's not be ashamed to stand up to anybody who engages in unacceptable behaviour. The end should not justify the means!
The fact that the match will be broadcast live by Supersport affords us a rare window to show the world that Zimbabwe in general, and Highlanders and Dynamos members in particular have embraced the spirit of Fair Play. After all don't they say "victory is sweetest when you've known defeat."
Finally, to the two clubs we say: "There is no greater challenge than to have someone relying upon you; no greater satisfaction than to vindicate his expectation".
Dynamos/Highlanders back-to-back clashes since 2007.
2007 – Highlanders 1, Dynamos 2; Dynamos 0, Highlanders 0
2008 – Highlanders 1, Dynamos 1; Dynamos 1, Highlanders 1
2009 – Dynamos 4, Highlanders 0; Highlanders 0, Dynamos 1
2010 – Dynamos 1, Highlanders 0; Highlanders 0, Dynamos 3
2011 – Highlanders 0, Dynamos 0; Dynamos 3, Highlanders 1
2012 – Highlanders 1, Dynamos 1; Dynamos 1, Highlanders 1
2013 – Dynamos 1, Highlanders 1.
Feedback: pmukwazo@yahoo.com, phineas.mukwazo@sundaynews.co.zw, pmukwazo@gmail.com, Whatsapp or Face book.
The blockbuster affair between Bosso and DeMbare that culminates into a blood and thunder affair at Barbourfields Stadium this afternoon, is no exception.
In the midst of huge media coverage, expectations and predictions, we have witnessed a new breed of fortune tellers among ourselves in this soccer crazy nation.
Interestingly, but not surprising, ahead of this encounter, there has been an upsurge in a number of "soothsayers", with most of them being partisan.
One such fella who pretended to prognosticate future events was a Dynamos supporter I met at a watering hole in the city. Apart from predicting a Dynamos win, he said his team would go all the way to win the league championship.
"Dynamos just like their age have 50 bags of tricks that will make sure they win Sunday (today's) game and the league championship. The talk of Highlanders walking away with the accolade is not only far-fetched but is just a dream," he said
The Dynamos supporter was, however, dismissed by a Zvishavane-based Highlanders follower Kelvin Mbulo, who predicted that his side would win the tie on a 3-0 scoreline.
"We know the bags of tricks he is talking about. They are the referees who always assist them by either awarding them a dubious penalty or adding time so that they are not defeated. This time the whole world will be watching because Supersport will beam the game live and CAF will also be watching. As for us at Highlanders we are now riding a train dubbed 'must win game' and we are going to thrash Dynamos 3-0," he said.
But the two and et al will have to wait until shortly before 5pm at the end of what might prove the biggest match in the Premiership programme this year. And what makes this clash special is that it might have a huge bearing on who wins the championship.
The result will be hugely anticipated by the black and white half of the country more so as they felt that they were robbed in the reverse fixture. In that match at Rufaro, Highlanders led for a long period only to be denied by an equaliser scored by Partson Jaure deep in added time.
And what makes the match difficult to predict is that Bosso have just found their form and lead the race with a two-point advantage over DeMbare. But this is a crucial game for DeMbare.
Dynamos know that a win for the home side will see them open up a five-point gap, which might prove insurmountable to catch up.
History has it that Bosso have not beaten DeMbare in a league match in the past seven years, with their last victory coming way back in 2006, the year they were last crowned champions. They beat Dynamos in back-to-back victories, winning 1-0 in Harare and 2-0 in Bulawayo.
However, ahead of this match, optimists say Bosso should draw inspiration from the fact that they are at the top of their game and that, crucially, they are unbeaten against DeMbare in the past four league games that all ended in draws.
Since the emergence of the modern day Premier Soccer League as an autonomous body in 1993, both Highlanders and Dynamos have won the coveted championship six times apiece. But Highlanders boast the enviable record of having won the league title four times in succession from 1999 to 2002, a feat that is yet to be matched by their adversaries today.
But whatever the outcome of the game, or whatever the predictions, our appeal to all those who will throng Emagumeni today is: Let's embrace the spirit of Fair Play. And let Fair Play be the guiding principle.
The FIFA Fair Play concept does not say matches should be won by hook and crook, but it means that respect should be part of the game. Without opponents there can be no game and that everyone has the same rights, including the right to be respected.
Teammates are colleagues and referees are there to maintain discipline and fair play.
We should always accept the referee's decisions without arguing, and help them to enable all the participants to have a more enjoyable game. Officials are also part of the game and must be respected accordingly.
Fans should give the game atmosphere: conduct themselves fairly by respecting themselves. What the game demands are genuine fans, people who have respect for property, safety of others, coaches, and even themselves.
Granted, referees do err sometimes, coaches can make unpopular decisions but surely there are civilised ways of making one's feelings known and resorting to violence is certainly not one of them.
The challenge to all those who love "the most beautiful game" is let's not be ashamed to stand up to anybody who engages in unacceptable behaviour. The end should not justify the means!
The fact that the match will be broadcast live by Supersport affords us a rare window to show the world that Zimbabwe in general, and Highlanders and Dynamos members in particular have embraced the spirit of Fair Play. After all don't they say "victory is sweetest when you've known defeat."
Finally, to the two clubs we say: "There is no greater challenge than to have someone relying upon you; no greater satisfaction than to vindicate his expectation".
Dynamos/Highlanders back-to-back clashes since 2007.
2007 – Highlanders 1, Dynamos 2; Dynamos 0, Highlanders 0
2008 – Highlanders 1, Dynamos 1; Dynamos 1, Highlanders 1
2009 – Dynamos 4, Highlanders 0; Highlanders 0, Dynamos 1
2010 – Dynamos 1, Highlanders 0; Highlanders 0, Dynamos 3
2011 – Highlanders 0, Dynamos 0; Dynamos 3, Highlanders 1
2012 – Highlanders 1, Dynamos 1; Dynamos 1, Highlanders 1
2013 – Dynamos 1, Highlanders 1.
Feedback: pmukwazo@yahoo.com, phineas.mukwazo@sundaynews.co.zw, pmukwazo@gmail.com, Whatsapp or Face book.
Source - sundaynews
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