THE raging Dynamos Football Club juju saga, which contributed to the suspension of head coach Herbert Maruwa, represents a step backwards.
Maruwa is a promising young coach who has the required credentials to coach in the Premiership.
And, for him and his backroom staff to be accused of believing, let alone using, juju in this age and era is quite sad.
It’s sad that we still believe in the Stone Age methods where juju was even believed to have been powerful enough to win a World Cup in football.
The more things have changed, the more they have stayed the same.
Sports isn’t about dark arts, it’s all about talent, training, professionalism and focus.
It is as much about discipline as it is about having the right spirit to defy the odds and conquer the peaks that are found along the way.
Top athletes like the ageless Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have conquered the world due to hard work, discipline, sound management and focus.
Sadly, this is not the case at Dynamos, 60 years after it was formed.
We are still hearing issues surrounding juju use at the club.
These are the issues that were being heard in 1963, when the current Dynamos board chairman, Bernard Marriot and his colleagues, were playing in their first season.
These were the issues that were being heard when Dynamos were the dominant club in the country, just after Independence.
Interestingly, these are the same issues being heard today, which is quite sad, given that Dynamos have been struggling to match the levels they set for themselves during their hey days.
One is left to ask – if juju really works, why is it that the Glamour Boys have not won the league championship in the past nine years?
If juju really works, why is it that DeMbare have never featured in the group stages of the Champions League ever since the World Cup came across the border in 2010?
This is all a mockery to the value of sports management where psychologists, physical trainers, dieticians, tacticians and many other professionals, play a big part in the success of clubs and athletes.
Wasting money on sangomas to enhance the success of top athletes should never be entertained and tolerated.
If the allegations that three top Dynamons players – Issah Sadiki, Taimon Mvula and Ely Ilunga – were forced to take juju are true, then we still have a long way to go.
Maruwa, whose image has been tarnished by a litany of these allegations, also needs to engage his legal team and clear his name.
He also deserves to clear his name as the allegations can ruin his future.
He is a person who relies on football for a living.
Dynamos, being the most successful brand in Zimbabwean football, should always lead by example.
Allegations of juju use, extortion and drug peddling in their camp should never be taken lightly.
If the allegations are true, then there is quite a lot that needs to be done and bring back sanity at Dynamos.