Harare, December 6 2016- Obama Boys Football Club survived taunts about their identity linked the American’s presidency following the recent elections in the United States to retain the Harare Professionals Soccer League (Hpsl) title. It’s the club’s third in as many years.
Own Correspondent
Obama Boys’ 4-0 win against Joma- the team they clobbered 14-1 in first league match back in April- gave them an unassailable three point advantage over fancied former Division 2 side, Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe (CAAZ).
But it’s the recent election in the United States that raised the profile of the team with fans and supporters wondering whether the team will be renamed when U.S. President- elect Donald Trump takes over from Barack Obama in 2017.
Former US Ambassador Bruce Wharton once addressed the question prior to concluding his term as Obama’s envoy in Harare. Back then, there was no clue who the contenders to the U.S. elections would be, let alone the eventual winner. “The United States has a history of celebrating past presidents,” he told guests at a testimonial match featuring the Obama Boys and the now extinct Zim Lawyers football club.
But getting mired into the politics of the United States is not the kind of stuff the self- proclaimed kings of social soccer are keen to get involved in.
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“Being defending champions, every match is like a cup final and all teams want to get the best possible result against you- usually a draw or a small margin defeat. So we had to be at our best,” said Sizani Weza, Obama Boys team manager.
“You can never get used to winning titles, and I am happy for the boys who pushed for it from our first match to today,” said Weza whose elite social soccer side has attracted some of Zimbabwe’ yesteryear football greats. They include seasoned campaigners such as former Highlanders and Dynamos striker Admire Dzukamanja; Allan Johnson (Motor Action); James Matola (Supersport), Moore Moyo (Buymore) and Eddie Mashiri (Dynamos).
The Harare Professionals Soccer League was established in 2013 and brings together commercial companies and social clubs. Other clubs include highly improved Star FM, giant killers Whelson Transport and Protector Rangers, the condom vendors. Hotels- Rainbow Towers and Holiday Inn, garment vendors Truworths and Edgars Stores are also part of the league.
Chitungiwza based club, Johanne Masowe (Joma) have not found the going too easy. Yet that did not stop them from honoring the Obama Boys. Waddington Gandiwa, Joma manager, presented the trophy and medals to his illustrious opponents praising them for their professional display.
“We like teams like Obama Boys because after the match you feel better,” he said. “We don’t win but we compete and can beat anyone in the league on a good day.”
Obama Boys has its roots at a traffic circle in Alexandra Park where a group of young boys played regular soccer. Obama Boys is sponsored by staff at the Embassy’s Public Affairs Section, Dants Media Private Limited, and the Harare International School. Other sponsors have included former Ambassador Bruce Wharton and the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). According to the club, the team received a major boost this year when several of the team’s players were gainfully employed by BL Harbert International, constructing the $200 million U.S. Embassy complex in Westgate.
Over the years, the team has morphed to combine the flair of these youth with the composure of American diplomats and yester-year soccer greats to produce an attacking brand of football that has been a marvel to watch. This has seen them scoring an incredible number of goals each season. This season they bettered last season’s goal tally by 4 goals, scoring 140 goals in open play. Their closest competitor Caaz, managed 83 goals. The team’s strike force is led by gangly striker Douglish Nyangawo (25) who clinched the Hpsl’s golden boot with 36 goals, beating his tried and tested colleague and former national team trialist Moore Moyo by three goals.
HPSL teams re-assemble in early 2017, and Obama Boys can’t pray for better competition.
