Exclusive: Agent: ‘Zimbabwe league’s US dollar luring stars’

Zimbabwe’s top football agent Godfrey Bakasa has shared his expert opinion on what could be luring star players to the country’s flagship Castle Lager Premier Soccer League.

Former Kaizer Chiefs striker Knowledge Musona became the latest big-name player to sign for a Zimbabwean side. The 35-year-old joined Scottland FC, reuniting with younger brother Walter, Khama Billiat, Terrence Dzvukamanja, Khuda Myaba and Ronald Pfumbidzai.

All the five players graced the highly rated South Africa’s PSL teams notably Billiat was at Ajax Cape Town, Mamelodi Sundowns and the Glamour Boys. However, they are now in the Castle PSL, a development Bakasa attributed to some few teams’ ability to pay decent perks.

The agent said: “It is about the package. The league is improving now. At the end of the day, it is the US dollar that has the power right now.”

He added that the influx of seasoned star players such Musona and Billiat could go a long way in improving the Castle PSL standards in the long term.

“The league is gaining popularity. It is a good thing that established and experienced players like Knowledge and Khama are coming back home,” Bakasa told Pan-Africa Football.

“It is something that future generations will benefit from. It is not a short-term thing. Imagine playing with Khama and Musona. It is something that motivates you.”

The agent insisted Zimbabwean clubs are not yet at the level of their South African counterparts in terms of paying players better, but said a trend suggests that the Betway Premiership’s perks are stagnant.

“I can’t really say that they [Zimbabwe] clubs have the financial power to compete with those in South Africa, but a few clubs are now offering something better. The most paid player in South Africa right now doesn’t match the money that the most paid player in South Africa was getting from five years ago. The money is now decreasing and probably that is a factor,” he added.

Bakasa said, on average, the lowest paid player in Zimbabwe could earn around US1,000 monthly with the amount including basic salary, game bonuses and allowances.