LAST weekend, the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League threw in some intriguing fixtures, particularly involving title chasing Simba Bhora and FC Platinum.
All eyes were on the two matches, with Caps United, who had lost just once in their previous nine matches, travelling to Wadzanayi Stadium on a mission to take all three points against Simba Bhora, a feat no team has achieved this term.
FC Platinum, whose chances of winning the title had illuminated following Simba Bhora’s defeat to Herentals in their previous match, had a trip to Harare to face unpredictable Dynamos.
As if to add more intrigue to the situation, Caps United president Farai Jere dangled US$1 000 for each player in the event they won.
This was a sweetener to an already delicious fixture considering Caps United’s form as well as Simba Bhora’s run at their fortress.
Caps United had defeated Highlanders, Dynamos and FC Platinum and looked like they could be the party poopers for Simba Bhora.
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In the spirit of fair play, Jere said he wanted to make sure his charges play their hearts out and not give Simba Bhora three points on a silver platter.
The league’s chairperson said he wanted his team to test Simba Bhora’s resolve as they vie for the title.
Caps United must be commended for trying to instil the spirit of fair play in the matches that may ultimately decide the destiny of the title.
The Green Machine also upped the stakes for their players in the match against FC Platinum.
But this weekend, they dangled probably the biggest carrot in the league even though they went on to lose the match 2-1.
Things can only be good for the game when players earn such amounts.
Football is a profession and it is a source of livelihood the world over.
It is the most popular sport in the country, if not the world, and thus the rewards should be commensurate.
Caps United have taken a leaf from Scottland who have been paying eye-watering bonuses to their players as they push for promotion to the topflight league from the Northern Region Division One.
Scottland players have been getting as much as US$1 500 per player for every win in the title run against MWOS FC.
Club owner Pedzisayi “Scott” Sakupwanya has promised to pay each player US$10 000 if they gain promotion to the top-tier league.
It is good to see other clubs upping their game and paying players good bonuses.
Some of the clubs had been blighted by match-fixing allegations in their fight for honours, but made a dramatic volte face by dangling the carrot for their players and coaching staff.
It makes football even more interesting as party poopers always want to do their job and spoil the party, while those chasing for honours offer incentives.
All hope is that more clubs can follow suit and raise the stakes, which can improve the quality of lives for footballers as well as the standards of football.
If malpractices are nipped in the bud, even sponsors will be eager to partner football clubs and share the burden of winning bonuses, travel and subsistence costs, etc.
Let us cleanse our football of bad practices that we are seeing in the last days of this year’s league season and start next term on a clean slate.
Once we let it go unchecked, it will be very difficult to tame.
It kills the passion, it kills the vibe.
Many a footballer eke out a living from the sport and let us respect just that fact alone.