Spar steps in taking care of former stars

A supermarket chain has pledged to look into the welfare of former soccer players by giving them employment when their active playing days are over and the poorhouse is beckoning.

SPAR made the offer after meeting with the soccer legends representative, Charlie Jones, and went on to donate goodies worth thousands of dollars to kick-start the relationship which will prove handy to the former greats, most of whom are known to live in destitution long after having  hung their soccer boots.

The Food chain group went a mile further by providing a coffin and other assistance following the death of Kenneth “The Computer” Jere who passed on recently. He was a Dynamos striker blessed with dribbling wizardry, thereby earning himself the name of the technological gadget.

Addressing players at a recent function in Harare where more than 40 attended, Jones bemoaned the plight of the former players, and urged them to unite and form a vibrant union representative of their interests.

“It is not as if we made the game of football what is today. We are just a forgotten lot yelling in the abysmal pit in the wilderness, praying someone may hear us. We just do not enjoy the status we should, hence the need to join forces and speak with one voice,” said the former Arcadia and Caps United forward.

Among those who attended were George Shaya, Freddy Mukwesha, Jimmy Mbewe, Carlos Max, Sheperd Muradzikwa, Sunday and Misheck Chidzambwa, David Mandigora, Gift Makoni, Elvis Chiweshe, Stanford Mutizwa and Laban Kandi.

By Gilbert Munetsi