When the New Curriculum was being introduced, a gathering of Heads had been assembled to find out more about what was involved. It was exciting that the New Curriculum acknowledged the need for there to be more sport in schools; of particular interest, one of the key and commendable inclusions in Primary education was the requirement that all Primary children were to learn to swim. There was one slight difficulty, however, as one Head dared to point out: “What happens if your school does not have a swimming pool?” It is not helpful to quote the response that was given but this is a crucial question, as probably over ninety percent of the schools in this country do not have a swimming pool, while many that do have a pool do not have water in it. Furthermore, we are not likely to see schools having swimming pools as the cost of building and maintaining a pool is massive.
Some will argue therefore that the reason why we do not do well in sport in Zimbabwe all comes down to money. We clearly do not have the facilities or the equipment, let alone the trained personnel. However, it is not so much the lack of money that is the problem in our school sporting system; it is something far more serious. It is the use of money in our school sporting system. It all comes down to money, money, money but essentially how it is used.
Schools may be concerned about their reputation, as reputation brings in more pupils, and people are gullible enough to think that if a school wins matches it is a good school. Much of their reputation is built on their sporting success, such is the passion for sporting success among many people. Schools may be tempted to put such a premium on winning that they will do whatever it takes to make their teams win, mainly by offering talented players scholarships to come to their school. They will buy success, in other words. In South Africa it is far worse – schools employ full time First Fifteen rugby coaches and pay them more than the Head of that school; they pay the pupils through a Trust Fund to come and play rugby full-time, not study. Why? Simply so they can say they beat other schools. It all too easily can become a matter of money, not of coaching or development or child welfare but rather a matter of increasing the number of pupils at the school.
Coaches also are often only interested in their reputation and their reputation is dictated by results, they feel. In the past, coaches were not paid but gave their time freely and willingly to see the development of the child’s ability; the same was true of umpires and referees. Now, you will rarely find a coach who is not paid or an umpire or referee who does not receive reward. So, money talks! However, sadly, it does not stop there. Coaches do not only demand payment for their services but some are now demanding from former players who have achieved national status a percentage of the allowances or payments they now receive, because, the coaches claim, they played a part in getting that player to that position! Furthermore, some coaches may even now be demanding (and receiving) money from parents for their child to be selected, be it for a school or select team. Many coaches like to take their teams on tour but maybe more because it is a wonderful opportunity for the coach to travel (for free), be seen in an international context and make lucrative contacts.
Furthermore, players selected for National teams are not necessarily the best players mainly on account of money. Firstly, players have to pay to play for their country. As a result, many players do not get the chance to play for their country as their parents cannot afford the costs of representing the country (which include the costs of the coaches and managers). Secondly, coaches of provincial or school teams generally make up the selection panels of the select teams and as a result therefore are potentially going to select players from their own team, as this will improve their reputation and therefore their marketability as a coach. Even if selected, players may appear to be more keen on what kit they will receive as opposed to the honour of representing their province or country. They have no hunger to go on to represent the country at full level but are satisfied with the kudos of playing at an age group level. Similarly, parents sometimes appear more interested in their child gaining a scholarship through sport as opposed to the joy of sport or of representing the country.
Sadly, money talks, but that talk is often not wholesome. The time for such talk is over. If we do not learn that, Zimbabwean sport will sink, not swim.
