Who said age ain’t nothing but a number? It is.
For vanishing football legend Peter Ndlovu, age is a number in the true sense and his comeback with Black Mambas in the top-flight league is proof of the American saying.
Peter’s exploits have simply failed to dovetail into the hype that was associated with his return to domestic football after almost two decades in the jungle.
So much was expected of this living legend and so little has been produced by him.
Tragically, some little brands are trying to ambush Peter’s gigantic brand. He has become a target for merciless vultures.
That is why I think Peter must quit being active on the field and develop his stature as a coach or start his own academy. He should not let some small fish spoil his imposing trademark.
It was painful to see a headline: “Peter Ndlovu dumped.”
In the subsequent article there was a hardly recognisable Zivanai Chiyangwa speaking.
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He is the chairman of Division One side Highfield United and holds the same portfolio in the Zimbabwe Junior Football League. Chiyangwa might be known in football circles but he is nowhere near Peter Ndlovu’s legacy.
I find it demeaning for people to speak ill of such a great son of our football for whatever reason.
Peter is one of the greatest football prodigies to come out of Zimbabwe and the sooner he realises people are using him the better.
He should start his own enterprise and I bet before dusk sponsors would be falling over each other to assist.
A veteran of 100 international games, Ndlovu is the all-time leading scorer for the national team. He also led the Warriors to qualification for their first-ever African Cup of Nations (held in 2004 in Tunisia) as well as their second appearance at the 2006 tournament in Egypt.
He played several international games alongside former Liverpool goalkeeper Bruce Grobbelaar in the early 1990s.
The former Coventry City slick man is regarded among the greats like Moses Chunga, Benjani Mwaruwari, Norman Mapeza and George Shaya.
It is against this background that I urge Peter to continue his legacy in other areas of the same profession.
Ndlovu is a product of the Coca-Cola junior tournament and that area still needs his trailblazing achievements for inspiration. His sojourn in Europe and his success with the Warriors alone puts him in the spotlight.
He should look up North in Zambia where a legend of his similar qualities Kalusha Bwalya has made inroads in football administration. Bwalya is the Zambia Football Association president.
Rather than play for Kongola Bullets, Bwalya chose an occupation that resonated with the lofty heights he reached when he was a player.
You deserve a better place Peter!
