Knowledge Musona
The European winter has bitten for former Kaizer Chiefs striker Knowledge Musona, who has been laid low with flu ahead of the weekend.
The Zimbabwean has yet to start a Bundesliga match for Hoffenheim, let alone score a goal, as he adjusts to life in one of Europe’s top leagues, though he did score in the German Cup against Cologne in late October.
But things are likely to get harder for him in the coming months as well as he battles the unfamiliar and harsh weather conditions.
His return to fitness from flu is uncertain having missed the 2-0 win at Nurnberg last weekend, with Hertha Berlin coming up this weekend.
Meanwhile, there is a growing unrest in his homeland over the rule that states that the Zimbabwe Football Association (Zifa) pocket 15 percent of all transfer fees of players, including those that leave the country.
Zimbabwe has been a major exporter in recent years, mostly to South Africa, with clubs now racking up massive bills to pay Zifa.
Musona and Ajax Cape Town’s Khama Billiat are from the Aces Youth Academy and their director Nigel Munyati, also a Zifa board member, says he does not know where that money goes.
“Whatever we get from the sale of these players, it goes towards development at the Academy,” Munyati told local reporters. “We help these kids by paying for their school fees. We also help these youngsters who are talented, but come from an underprivileged background. It was better if the money we paid to Zifa was going towards development. Do you see any junior development programme being undertaken by the association?
“I wrote to Zifa stating my position and it is very unfortunate that I am also a board member of the association and that puts me in an awkward position. It was never about money when we sold either Khama Billiat or Knowledge Musona to Cape Town Ajax [sic] and Kaizer Chiefs respectively. We wanted them to fulfill their dreams and I am happy for them,” he said.