News / Local
Chipo Tsodzo quits beer
20 Nov 2014 at 09:21hrs | Views
Former Zimbabwe Saints and Warriors striker footballer Chipo Tsodzo, now a coach, has some interesting advise for footballers
Having struggled with alcohol abuse and earning a reputation of being entirely unreliable due to his infamous disappearing acts, Chipo Tsodzo claims he has quit the bottle.
Tsodzo grew to be one of the best utility players the country has ever seen. As a striker he would torment the opposition's defence at will and as a defender, he would make any lethal strike force look mediocre if not blunt.
But off the pitch his reputation was also growing, for drinking, pub brawling and other self-destructive behaviours.
His affection for brandy and other spirits overshadowed a career that could have reached dizzy heights. However, unbelievable as it might sound, the former Highlanders and Zimbabwe Saints utility player has gone for almost 11 months without drinking.
"It's been long since I last drank, almost eleven months now. It just occurred to me that I need to take a break from drinking and be of sober habits, and I quickly stopped drinking. One day or the other I had to shrug off the bad boy tag which I have been synonymous with ever since," said Tsodzo.
Tsodzo believes it's time that the people running football in this country do more to protect talented youngsters from falling by the wayside.
"Most of our footballers come from very poor backgrounds and they become rich and famous stars overnight.
"With all the attention they get here, it's almost like a "big fish in a small pond" scenario. And that is usually where the trouble starts, because these players can't properly deal with the attention," advised Tsodzo.
Tsodzo also believes the coaches are not doing enough to develop players into proper human beings.
"Zimbabwe produces some of the best juniors in the world, but in most cases the coaches have failed to develop them as proper footballers. That is slowly being addressed at the moment. However, the next big challenge may be developing these footballers into proper human beings," said Tsodzo who currently is the coach of Bantu Rovers Junior teams.
Having struggled with alcohol abuse and earning a reputation of being entirely unreliable due to his infamous disappearing acts, Chipo Tsodzo claims he has quit the bottle.
Tsodzo grew to be one of the best utility players the country has ever seen. As a striker he would torment the opposition's defence at will and as a defender, he would make any lethal strike force look mediocre if not blunt.
But off the pitch his reputation was also growing, for drinking, pub brawling and other self-destructive behaviours.
His affection for brandy and other spirits overshadowed a career that could have reached dizzy heights. However, unbelievable as it might sound, the former Highlanders and Zimbabwe Saints utility player has gone for almost 11 months without drinking.
"It's been long since I last drank, almost eleven months now. It just occurred to me that I need to take a break from drinking and be of sober habits, and I quickly stopped drinking. One day or the other I had to shrug off the bad boy tag which I have been synonymous with ever since," said Tsodzo.
Tsodzo believes it's time that the people running football in this country do more to protect talented youngsters from falling by the wayside.
"Most of our footballers come from very poor backgrounds and they become rich and famous stars overnight.
"With all the attention they get here, it's almost like a "big fish in a small pond" scenario. And that is usually where the trouble starts, because these players can't properly deal with the attention," advised Tsodzo.
Tsodzo also believes the coaches are not doing enough to develop players into proper human beings.
"Zimbabwe produces some of the best juniors in the world, but in most cases the coaches have failed to develop them as proper footballers. That is slowly being addressed at the moment. However, the next big challenge may be developing these footballers into proper human beings," said Tsodzo who currently is the coach of Bantu Rovers Junior teams.
Source - B-Metro
