Once a dominant force in Southern Africa, Zimbabwean football commanded respect across the continent. The Warriors regularly challenged giants like South Africa and Zambia, boasting exceptional talent and passionate fans. Stadiums roared with pride as the team competed fiercely, showing tactical brilliance and determination.
However, those glory days have faded. Today, Zimbabwean football struggles under the weight of mismanagement, internal disputes, and lost integrity. The decline has been steep and painful. Once filled with promise, the nation’s football scene now battles corruption, neglect, and politics. Once proud warriors now fight to reclaim the soul of their beloved game.
Former Warriors star details what destroyed Zimbabwean football
Former Warriors winger Gabriel Nyoni recently expressed heartbreak over Zimbabwe’s football collapse. Sharing on Facebook, he questioned what might have been if politics had stayed away. “Imagine if talent spoke louder than connections,” he wrote, capturing the frustration of many fans. Nyoni lamented how politics, greed, and favouritism have destroyed the sport’s integrity.
He recalled the Asiagate scandal as the moment football’s innocence died. Trust vanished, and passion turned into business. Since then, he said, “politics and greed have played more minutes than our players.” His message struck a chord across Zimbabwe.
Nyoni’s words echo a shared longing for reform. His reflection challenges leaders to restore transparency, fairness, and pride. Zimbabwean football can rise again — but only when passion, not politics, leads the game.
Fans react
After the former Warriors star Gabriel Nyoni spoke of what destroyed Zimbabwean football, fans had a lot to say.
@Tendai Jali “remember in e early 2000s dynamos played highlanders e curtain raisers were juniors those days l tell u ro break in any club u had to b great player.clubs wer recruiting from different schools Churchill,lordmalvern,mzilikazi,prince Edward it was fun now its who u kno and who u kno wl mak it happen.”
@Shephard Chipoka “Politics is everywhere even between husband and wife b4 even bringing in the greater family. Soccer is no exception.”
@Cephas Nyahwa “Profound. Politics n connections killed the beautiful game for sure”
@Smilo Zwane “If Politics touches Mpilo nursing school entry, job recruitment, why would it not touch football?”
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The post ‘Politics & greed’: Former Warriors star details what destroyed Zimbabwean football appeared first on iHarare News.
