Former national coach Barretto laments crisis back home

By Lance Guma
12 December 2007

Until this weekend only two major sports stars in Zimbabwe, Henry Olonga and Andy Flower, had stood up against Mugabe’s regime in the famous ‘black armband’ protest. But former national soccer team coach Roy Barretto has now joined that elite club of brave sports people willing to speak out. On Saturday in Portugal, Barretto and his wife joined protestors from the Zimbabwe Vigil, making it clear he wanted to be identified with what the protesters were saying. Barretto told Newsreel that the crisis was affecting everyone, including sports personalities, and he joined the Zim Vigil activists to add his weight to their message.

Over 30 activists travelled from London to Lisbon and voiced their disaffection with Mugabe’s presence at the EU-Africa summit, given his human rights record. Barretto said the protests were very successful as they raised awareness on the crisis in the country. He said both delegates to the summit and ordinary Portuguese residents were left very clear on what the problems in Zimbabwe are about. Barretto is currently on a break from coaching and is staying in Lisbon while he maps out his future. As soon as he heard there were demonstrators from the UK he made the decision to join them.

The seasoned coach had stints with Highlanders, Zimbabwe Saints, Shu-Shine and Black Rhinos in Zimbabwe before coaching Free State Stars, Manning Rangers and Orlando Pirates in South Africa. Asked if he will go back to coach teams like Dynamos, Highlanders or Caps United in Zimbabwe, Barretto said he would only go back once things normalised. Commentators have in the past urged sports personalities with a huge fan base to use their clout and speak out against abuses in the country. In 2003 Henry Olonga and Andy Flower were banished from the Zimbabwe Cricket team after they wore black armbands during a match in which they mourned the death of democracy in Zimbabwe.