By Anesu Chakanetsa 

DUE to Covid-19, football in Zimbabwe and abroad has faced major setbacks, such as abandonments of ongoing leagues and cancellation of those that were set to begin. 

Teams across the world are in financial dire-straits. 

With no hope of any local professional football activity this year, players in Zimbabwe, in order to keep fit and earn some money, have resorted to an illegal version of football, called ‘money-game’. 

This is despite the strict lockdown rules that have been imposed by Government to curb spread of the virus. 

Prior to that, Zimbabwe was witnessing the busiest transfer season ever, with teams like Dynamos, Ngezi, FC Platinum and CAPS United signing a plethora of players. 

A debate was already raging in the media and beerhalls on which team would bully its way to lift the Premier Soccer League (PSL) trophy. 

Players and coaches too, were more than ready to get the ball rolling.

Then the Covid-19 came and all sports were suspended. 

Players began to train on their own. 

After realising that corona would not be curbed any time soon, players began to arrange money-games. 

Money-game is an illegal gambling game were two opposing teams place bets such as money or properties. Winner takes all. 

“Yes money-game is illegal but its meant to keep players fit and make them earn some few dollars,” said Tapiwa (Pseudonym), a former PSL players. 

Money-game’s history in Zimbabwe dates back to the colonial era, where blacks in townships would place bets and play football. 

But then, the game was played in a friendlier manner and under normal football rules. 

Nowadays, a money-game is played in different forms depending with the place. 

Where there is not enough infrastructure, people create small pitches, as small as a handball pitch and choose five to seven players, aside, bet and lock horns. 

Back then, stones were used as goalposts, but these caused disagreements because some goals were not clear. 

Some would say a goal should be a ‘complete grass-cutter’ better known in Shona terms as mutsvairo, while some said the ball should not go high above goalkeeper’s knee level. 

But all those methods always generated fights, sometimes eccentric goals would be scored. 

In recent times, youths are using small movable welded posts, on which they put some nets, to avoid brawls. 

Although the COVID-19 version of the money-game seems to be a little bit fairer, still fights surface here and there. 

The few existing community grounds, mostly known in Shona as chimbumu or chemhanza have become battlegrounds for most teams. 

In the money-games some football rules are actually omitted, and it makes sense to the players as some of the rules might lead to arguments. 

For instance, penalties are not allowed. Even in professional football penalties are always controversial. 

In money-games, if a player is fouled in the 18 area, and the referee blows the whistle, the first player from either team to get the ball gets the advantage. 

If it’s a player from the non-fouled team, he kicks the ball to the other half to restart play. 

Throw inns can just be like basketball inbounds and there is no 10 yard rule in free kicks and corner kicks. 

Nowadays teams are purchasing uniforms for money-games. 

Not so long ago, players would quarrel on which team would play without shirts for identification known in shona as kufunura. 

This version of money-game, being played in the midst of COVID-19 awareness campaigns for everyone’s safety, has generated a lot of fans in high density suburbs like Mufakose, Mabvuku, Glen View, Glen Norah and Mabvuku. 

“We started to play this money-game in April, but we have never seen any player contracting the disease.There in no Corona here,” said one of the Northern Region division two players, who declined to be named. 

“People are tired of sitting at home, they need entertainment,” he added. 

The availability of active PSL players, former players and even those that traded in South Africa and abroad is what usually brings the masses. 

Interestingly, promising young upcoming players are the most energetic, not caring about the detrimental sides of money-game. 

“You can’t tell me of getting injured when  l am ‘getting fitness’, the mettle of the game (chiguy) and money to cater for my family, money-game has become my training,” said one of the young players signed with FC Platinum juniors. 

Most teams had hired junior players for this year’s season. 

The money that is usually being placed as bets range from US$50 to US$300, and the winning team gets double that, excluding referee’s fee. Money is usually handled by an independent individual, mostly a figure trusted by both teams. 

Because ‘huge’ amounts of money are at stake, all sorts of evils pop up during these money-games. 

On bad days money-holders run away with the money and return after some weeks. 

In most money-games some teams get disgruntled with referees’ decisions and demand their money back. 

Some money-games degenerate into nasty fist fights due to ‘rough’ play.

Many former players, in their tight fitting jeans and tinted cars grace these games. 

Professional teams, however, do not allow their players to take part in gambling social matches. 

Khama Billiat, who comes from Mufakose, one of the proud homes of money-games, was once criticised by the media and his former team Sundowns for taking part in this version of the game. 

Back then, players like Tobias ‘Rocksteady’ Sibanda, and Gift ‘Muduso’ Mpariwa gained notoriety for playing money-games. Mpariwa’s nickname ‘Muduso’ means a big gambler. 

An example of a player whose career was lost after he was injured playing money-game was Samson Choruwa. 

After getting a career threatening injury from the dreadful Godfrey Dondo tackle who played for Masvingo United, Choruwa worked his way to recovery, but made the wrong decision to play a money-game. 

Another former PSL player pointed out that professional football should begin before players get addicted to money-game. 

“The reason why professional players are taking part in money-games is because they simply want to play football,” he said. 

“Other leagues abroad are playing football, yet their Corona cases are more than ours,” he added. 

Last month, news circulated that October 20 was PSL’s target to restart football in Zimbabwe. The Chibuku Super Cup is also considering hosting its annual tournament, something which will give players solace. 

But as for now, players are immersed in ‘traditional’ money-games. 

A game that has become the main sporting activity in the ‘ghettos’. 

It appears despite the games being banned participants always find a way round the laws.