By Lovemore Boora
REPRESENTING the country on the international stage is an honour which every top athlete craves for.
After all, the opportunity to represent one’s country, its people and its culture does not come on a silver platter. It comes with its fair share of blood, sweat and tears. It is also a sign of patriotism because one gets to wear the national colours and sing the national anthem with pride.
Former Zimbabwe national soccer team defender John Phiri falls into this category.
With 108 international caps as well as 11 CECAFA caps under his belt, Phiri is the most capped Zimbabwe national team soccer player of all time. He was proud to wear the green and gold stripes of Zimbabwe from 1981-1994.
The gangling defender played for State House Tornadoes and Darryn T in the domestic league before moving to Poland in 1992 where he played for FC Milliader for two seasons.
He then moved to Turkey in 1994 to play for Kayserspor and returned to Poland the following year to join Vartepozan.
The no-nonsense defender eventually hung up his boots in 1997, in South Africa, where he turned out for the now defunct Cape Town Spurs.
One of the national team’s finest defenders, Phiri expressed his gratitude to a number of former coaches, among them Micky Poole, Ben Koufie, Wieslaw Grabowski, Gibson Homela, Ashton ‘Papa’ Nyazika, Sunday Marimo, Roy Baretto, Peter Nyama and Reinhard Fabisch, for giving him the opportunity to represent the country at the highest level.
He was quick to add that he gave his best shot every time he was called up to don the Warriors jersey and every player who did so did it wholeheartedly because there was stiff competition for the starting line-up.
The former defender made it clear that playing for the national team was not a stroll in the park. But what kept him going was the undying love for his country adding that competing with Zimbabwe’s finest footballers helped them forge a strong bond as they shared unique experiences characterised by camaraderie.
The fierce competition, he says, transformed him from being an ordinary player into an international footballer.
The defence stalwart believes representing the nation at international level is a great honour and a source of immeasurable pride to any sportsperson.
“We played with pride for our nation. We put our nation first before anything else. Wearing the national team jersey those days was not an easy thing. [On the pitch] Zimbabwe was a good national team and it produced good footballers. That alone changed us from club footballers to international stars. What kept me going was simple — the love for my country and knowing that I was serving my nation,” said the football legend.
Phiri encouraged young footballers to respond to national team call-ups with pride and to love their country, saying they must stand up and give it their all because it provides them with a rare opportunity to shine in front of international scouts. It also provides them with a platform to break into the elite European leagues, like he did.
Says Phiri: “The best advice I would like to give to today’s youngsters is, when you are chosen to represent your nation forget about everything else and put your nation first.
“Love your nation with all your heart, walk the talk and say to yourself, ‘I will represent my nation without failure’. Give it 100 percent effort and remember there is a big reward waiting for you around the corner.
“Whoever imagined that I would one day fly from Zimbabwe and play in the Polish league where I believe I played my best football? As far as I am concerned, wearing the national team jersey does not come cheap; but it has its benefits. Scouts will be watching out for you and you must be ready to shine so that tomorrow you will be somebody to reckon with. People will talk about you; wear that yellow and green jersey with pride. Play your football as if there is no tomorrow.”
Phiri, who flourished as a defender during the famous ‘Dream Team’ era, which was coached by Reinhard Fabisch, expressed delight at the lifting of Zimbabwe’s ban from international football. This was now the time to build a strong team in order for the national team to claim its rightful place in African football.
He urged all those players who had retired from international football to have a rethink.
“Khama Billiat, Knowledge Musona and Nyasha Mushekwi must come back with speed to rescue our nation. They must put their nation first. If they have any grievances, let’s sit down and discuss things. I had a chat with Billiat; he seems to love his nation…” said Phiri.
The legend also appealed to supporters to rally behind the national team coaches instead of calling them names so that they can focus on grooming talent.
In Phiri’s opinion, if coaches were given the necessary support, the Warriors would conquer Africa.
As Zimbabwe embarks on nation building through the mantra, ‘Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo’, sportspersons must also believe that ‘Mitambo inovakwa nevene vayo’.
If one is talented, he/she must be ready to serve the nation because it gives one the opportunity to become part of the nation’s sporting history and heritage, to inspire young athletes and fans back home, in addition to becoming a role model.
To reach the pinnacle of his sport, fulfilling childhood dreams, gaining international recognition and respect and great performances at national level can leave a lasting impact on the country’s sporting legacy.
Playing for the national team is a badge of honour, a symbol of dedication, hard work and passion. It is a chance to make your country proud and create lifelong memories, Phiri observed.
