The ManicaPost
FRIDAY FOOTBALL ECHOES with Gamechanger
ESTEEMED followers of the game of football, thank you for finding time for interaction.
“How time flies when you are having fun” might be a tired cliché, but we will borrow and use it still (after all that is how it became trite). Today marks exactly two years and two weeks since our first indulgence — that moment when “Friday Football Echoes with Gamechanger” graced the sports pages of this publication. The column which, on the whole, sought to provide football footnotes and somewhat became a choice corner for many a football enthusiasts, however, is effectively put to bed today.
Indeed, the deed has not been easy to come to, but necessary all the same. After slightly over a hundred weeks — yes, more than a century of instalments — of doing this, we come a full circle.
It is adios! End of an era, not error! Too bad, so sad! Is it not?
But then all good (and even the bad) things come to an end, and the sun has set on “Friday Football Echoes” and the pen pusher, Gamechanger. We have run this race not necessarily competing with anyone, but principally seeking a deeper and fuller understanding of the game through engagement and interaction as we chewed and digested issues on this space.
It feels like only last week when the first ever contribution on this column was published on February 19, 2016 and ran under the headline “Good going Chicken Inn, Harare City” as our then representatives in the Caf Champions League and Confederation Cup respectively forayed into the African safari; when actually 24-and-a-half months have passed since then.
Needless to say, we made friends, and some who chose to be our enemies, alike along the way as we agreed to disagree on some matters. Yet we enjoyed every moment, which are all cast in gold, and shall forever profoundly cherish in the deepest depths of our hearts. Because we made mistakes from which we learned, it was also perfectly legitimate to gloat.
That said, it was inevitably as enlightening an experience as it was engaging to have indulged; which made the trouble we took over that period, every week without exception, worth all the while.
Every game has a kick-off and a full-time, and we, therefore, are blowing the final whistle on “Friday Football Echoes”. Gamechanger has enjoyed his 90 minutes – and additional time – of doing this and is heading back to the locker-room.
We did our bit part and it is time we joined “team terraces” and continue following the game from there.
But it would be utterly remiss of “Friday Football Echoes” to exit the scene with doffing the hat to those who made all this possible.
Gamechanger is heartily thankful and wholly indebted to The Manica Post editor Hatred Zenenga and his then second-in-command and news editor Cletus Mushanawani — two true friends of football and both of a Dynamos persuasion and Chelsea conviction. Messrs Zenenga and Mushanawani, while we are still at that although words totally fail us, are sincere blue-bloodied and bonafide followers of the game and thanks lots and loads, gentlemen, for everything!
And then there was the lifeblood of the column — ardent readers who took the effort to pore over the material we churned out and also made time for views, comments and contributions through feedback. Among them, but not limited only to, include Crispen Tendai Masenhu, Richard Mahuhushe Chauke, Tawanda Mhlanga (Dangamvura), Terrence Mwedzi (Osborene Dam), Ticha Bee (Bonda Mission), Berto (Murambinda), Collins — most of whom were religious followers — and several others who preferred anonymity.
So, true to the opening line of the column, we thank you all very much for the times we shared and the memories created.
And as alluded to in our signature departure note . . .
It’s Game On, Play On!
Feedback:
Why is the sky blue and the grass green? — Football fan.
The most funded teams get the best players to dominate the weaker, under-resourced teams. Real champions conquer strong contenders in a competitive league. We need at least balanced sponsorship for our teams than favour only the big three clubs. — Richard Mahuhushe Chauke.
For feedback send your views, comments and contributions through WhatsApp or sms on 0733 576 259 or e-mail:[email protected]
