Is Zimbabwean soccer finally out of intensive care?

I posed a question to some of my face book friends who are either influential in soccer or where once associated with  the game to get their feel on the how they rank the game in terms of both skill, organisation and talent in comparison to the rest of Africa and the rest of world. Here is what they said.

Madinda Ndlovu  a former Highlanders darling in the eighties, now coaching in Botswana said: When taking  about talent,skill and playing organisation. We are the highest ranked nation in Southern Africa when it comes to quality players as well as skilled players and this is clear when  you see the players that we have playing in other Countries. our Football was killed by the out doing of Junior Policy which has left the Country with no Development plans at all, during our time all Premier team were having Juniors right from under 12s to 18s and we came through those ranks to the First team . I am happy though that we are having Academies coming up again now u will see.

Faith Silandulo Dube. In terms of talent, skill we are there, however our organization is always suspect in a number of respects. The places you have mentioned are now taking football as a business, yet we are still a little bit distant in terms of professionalising the game

Alex Maseko said:
Great talent in Zimbabwe, all about discipline with some of the players and of course management also contributes. We can do it, we need to change the way we run the organization. Get people who have played the game before to be involved in management. That's my own opinion.

 Bongani Mafu, a former successful Zimbabwe saints coach said:
 My bro , we have been in the wilderness for a few years, with football politics taking over and the sport being run from an individualistic point of view where a few top people' s financial interest mattered but we are mow seeing a return to the productive regional influence with Junior football being promoted, we are going to get back to producing well groomed youths who have a great chance of developing to great professionals. Omazivelela have killed our soccer but there seems to be better organisation and hope! We are a bit behind the rest of the world but we remain ahead of S A in terms of talent and vision but that is our downfall, supplying players to leagues that are nearly as good as us or just above or below us is KILLING our national team! S A is no good for our national development! It is a place where our ageing players should be going for their final pay cheque windfall.

Isaac Mbedzi a coach and academy owner in Canada said: Soccer in Zimbabwe has gone way behind in some regions in Zimbabwe especially in Matebeleland mainly becoz of lack training or game facilities and its not even fair to try and compare it with countries above in any aspect of the game ngoba thina we still do it like the very funny and unprofessional way.

Ezra Tshisa an online DJ and a soccer enthusiast in his own right said:The State of Zimbabwean football is in shambles, its marred by systematic corruption and bribery with so much political interference and abuse of authority by those in charge. Instead of modernising football we as a country are going backwards. We have talent in Zim but its not taped properly because of lack of sponsorship as no sponsor would like to associate itself with a corrupt system. The talent is wasted and there is no exposure of our talented youngsters who can be taped by European leagues mainly caused by lack of TV coverage as the sole broadcaster ZBC does not stream Zim football. We leg far behind when it comes to football administration and organisation and there is a danger the talent we have will be wasted.

Tse Ndebele a coach who is also trainer coaches  said: Generally Africa is second to South America in terms of talent. Zambians boast of the greatest fighting and team spirit I know. Zimbabweans are the most talented in Southern Africa, with a better attitude and work ethic. South Africans are average and lazy. There is too much money in the game. Of course, all the money is in Europe, and that compensates for all lacks big time.

 Tsepo Mabalane. A life time Highlanders fan said:

 I think south Africans are the most talented from what i have seen at amateur level, again i believe a vodacom side(i believe European coaches have killed the South Africans' natural talent at PSL and Mvela levl) can stand its ground against this inform highlanders ask boys like Rio, graham, tendai ndoro who have played against those players(and the AFCON amabinneplass easily beat Zim in Sudan). Zimbabweans are hardworking and the talented guys are from an economically deprived region as history has always proven it starting with Grobelaar to Benjani or Pritchard from Gweru. I will rate South Africa at 1, DRC and Zambia both at 2, Angola then Zimbabwe would compete with Namibia. just an opinion Mkhwananzi and Tse Ndex. again Bosso or its politics is killing Zim soccer by playing outsiders. In the past we knew our under 20 or 23 would always be in the top 4 in africa because bosso was producing i.e the Peter under 23. the Siza under 23, the Madinda under 20, the Vusa/Honour under 20 and so forth. 

 I do believe money plays a role i.e the Africa champions league top 8 in the last 10 years would look like this 1. Al Ahly-Mubarak sponsored 2. TP Mazembe-diamond tycoon 3-Sundowns FC-mining magent 4. Dynamos-ZANU sponsored 5. Sudan Ali Ahly -Oil 6. Enyimba oil 7. Petro atletico oil 8. Esperance-tunisian gvt or Asante Kotoko or ASec mimosa paltinum and gold tycoons. You will never find your ZANACO or Highlanders never coz of the finances. If Obert Mpofu does sponsor then you can talk of champions league for Bosso, otherwise for now its day-dreaming. @Nhlanhla Mabhena its not skill that South Africans buy its effort i.e destroyers-Nengomasha, Dinha, Nyandoro defenders Sweswe, Nyadombo etc or force based strikers i.e Mushekwi and co or once in a while a speed master musona or billiat. for skill they have more than enough, you can not find a pule, teko, lekolea, lebogang mokoena, dukuduku, jali, manyisa, serero, pienaar or mayambela in zimbabwe unless you go kobulawayo but bosso no longer wants those players as they now do kick and hope except maybe for this season. 
 Thank you guys for all your opinions and and contribution