SATURDAY, March 9, marked the beginning of the 2024 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League race in what should be an entertaining eight-month show.
Surely, the off-season headlines were dominated by the return to Zimbabwe and to the Premiership of former Mamelodi Sundowns poster-boy Khama Billiat, who joined Yadah.
The Miracle Boys paid a whopping US$20 000 signing on fees on top of a US$5 000 monthly salary which Billiat will be receiving in the one-season contract he has signed with the Miracle Boys.
This is in addition to an apartment, which will be paid for fully by Yadah plus a Land Rover Defender - company car — which the player will be driving around in during his stay at the Heart Stadium.
This is luxury at its fullest and probably a life many football administrators in Zimbabwe cannot afford, and have never enjoyed throughout their lives.
This surpases the much talked about US$1 million Zimbabwe, which Amazulu paid for the services of Ronald 'Gidiza' Sibanda in 2000, probably the most talked about transfer before the Billiat move.
For the record, $1 million in Zimbabwe then was a lot of money, money which many could only dream of in their lives hence the comparison with the Billiat transfer.
The onus is now on Billiat himself to prove that he is worth all this money despite comments attributed to Supersport coach Gavin Hunt that the player has outlived his usefulness.
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Hunt claims Billiat is now over the hill and is no longer the player he was at Mamelodi Sundowns and was even lucky to command a high salary at Kaiser Chiefs - the last team he played for.
"Billiat is good in feigning injury when he knows he can no longer lift the team so that he gets paid for not playing," Hunt was quoted as saying.
Billiat's stage starts this afternoon at the Colliery where Yadah visit Hwange and that presents him with the opportunity to prove that he still has that touch, those darting runs and that ability to open up defences that made him a household name, not only in South Africa and Zimbabwe but throughout Africa.
A good show by Khama today could generate more interest and guarantee Yadah a full house in their first home game, that coming against Dynamos in their third match of the season in three weeks’ time.
Yadah are away to either Tenax or Bikita Minerals in their next match as they have been fixured to travel again in their second game of the 2024 PSL programme.
However, despite the Billiat hype, nobody - even their most partisan of fans- is giving Yadah any chance of lifting the league title or even winning the Chibuku Super Cup.
Talk is obviously centred on FC Platinum, Dynamos, Manica Diamonds, Highlanders, and of course, defending champions Ngezi Platinum Stars.
Dembare and Madamburo, though, will have the extra responsibility of participating in Africa where Dynamos are in the Caf Confederation Cup and Ngezi in the Caf Champions League but the two say they are ready for the double assault.
There are others too who are of the feeling that Chicken Inn and CAPS United have an outside chance although some are also of the belief that money problems could derail the Green Machine's aspirations.
Makepekepe signed 10 new players and were beaten on the market only by Simba Bhora who on their part acquired 12 new signings which was expected going by coach Tonderai Ndiraya's off-season background.
That, though, brings with it a big danger as molding the old and the new players into a strong force could prove too difficult as that needs more time.
There were times, especially during the FC Platinum reign, when money decided who won the league championship and only Ngezi Platinum Stars were seen as Platinum's strongest competitors as Madamburo could also compete equally money wise.
That is now history as most of the teams in the Premiership are now on a sound financial footing with Dynamos and Highlanders backed by Sakunda while Manica Diamonds have the Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation on their side and Greenfuel, Chicken Inn, Simba Bhora, and of course, Herentals are also all well taken care of.
There are only a few like Chegutu Pirates, and Bulawayo Chiefs, who do not look financially secure while Tel One, ZPC Kariba, Arenel Movers and Hwange, are not poor but are not in the race for the PSL title.
After following the off - season activities, my conclusion is that the race for the championship would surely be between Ngezi Platinum Stars, FC Platinum and probably Manica Diamonds.
The likes of Caps United, Chicken Inn, Dynamos, and Highlanders, are likely to give a good fight but will fail to keep pace with the miners when the going gets tough.
Simba Bhora, and Herentals - as usual - do not have big ambitions and are likely to drift up and down but will end up in mid-table positions.
Chegutu Pirates are a sure bet for relegation but it's a toss on who will join them from the grouping of Greenfuel, Bulawayo Chiefs, TelOne, Yadah, Hwange, Arenel Movers, ZPC Kariba, and of course Tenax or Bikita Minerals.
It surely has been three-months of a player transfer guessing game and now is the time for the real challengers to be separated from the pretenders.
*For your views, comments, and suggestions mkariati@gmail.com or WhatsApp on 0773 266 779.
