Are the youth patriotic to Zimbabwe?

[ZIMDOGGY]

Just had a thought.

We’ve all seen the problems of ZC management in the past. We have criticised, backed up when needed, commented and been a part of the merry go round.

One thing I think anyone who’s been here longer than two years have witnessed is a lot of the stories of Zimbabwe have a lot of unwavering patriotism from the players and officials and love of the country. A lot have returned because in their heart they can’t truly leave (don’t get me wrong, there’s a lot of Grandhommes out there that seem to have fled at fort opportunity and never looked back) but there’s always been a lot of tweets and social media support from the expats and players on their passion for Zimbabwe.
Taylor, Streak, Sean Ervine and a lot more just can’t truly turn their back on the country no matter what. Those are just some big names that come to the top of my mind.

But,
I sit here looking through resume after resume at my job and see Shona and Ndebele names applying for jobs they have no hope of ever getting (the psychopathic side of me loves toying with them and inviting them in for interviews the next day knowing they are in Harare or somewhere and that they have most likely passively supported their government into creating a basket case they want to flee but that’s a different story) but it occurred to me that most of the young, and therefore most of the country, have only ever known Zimbabwe post 2001 farm expungement, have only ever known Zimbabwe as hardship and tough living. As a place to flee. A place of 90 percent unemployment.
These people also are our cricketing youth.

So my question, are the youth so downtrodden and desperate to get out that they associate Zimbabwe with hell as opposed to the unique place it used to be. A blend of colonial England and Sub Saharan African wildlife, a breadbasket of a continent, a place that could create elite sportsman from a small pool. A resilient people? Has all this been lost?

Even 5 years ago I felt that Zimbabwe has a mystique about the country. Something special about it, a lot of it was on reputation, but now I yawn because I’ve realised the place is now just another Ethiopia.

Have Zimbabwe lost their patriotic and passionate people? Or are we simply going through a phase?

[jimmylesaint]

Zimbabwe has been down graded from "aish tough times" to "shithole".
History shows it takes at least 3 generations(60yrs) to see change. We are just coming up to 40yrs since independence . The minorities have shrunk in size by 10fold in another 20years the old folk would have passed away. The youngsters continue to leave to greener pastures, the remainers will live in their ivory towers or fully intergrate into african society.
The youths only want quick gains and with technology they see what others are enjoying around the world. They are getting more demanding from the government and here in Bullies the matabelele are getting more demanding for their Zimexit .

They are still patriotic and nationalistic but they also ask "what should the country do for me?"
The zimbabwe economy has been destroyed- how many people nowadays can work for a company in Zim and get a good wage plus medical aid plus school fees paid for by the company.?
That used to be the norm in the past.
Schooling now sees fees almost doubled already and going up termly.
Medication and hospitals are a joke or too expensive.
Jobs are few and far between with those with them having a wage that doesn't go up like the cost of living.
WHo in their right mind wouldn't head for the hills at the first opportunity?? Who would blame them?(perhaps those that can't leave?)
What will happen to cricket? Simple it will get worse as teachers leave for greener pastures the standards drop and the schooling system has a lot to do with producing our talented.
So they are as loyal to Zimbabwe as a beaten spouse is to their abuser.

[Googly]

Our President made a very worrying statement the other day about our education system. He said it hadn’t worked for Zimbabwe and that it was time for change. We’re all waiting for the next installment with bated breath. Anything is possible.

[Googly]

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.zimbab ... ystem/amp/

[Googly]

My biggest gripe is people who leave this country because they can’t survive here but then continue to support the party from afar. We’ve had a few forumites do just that.
There are actually a number of high profile civil servants/politicians that have family living in other countries under political asylum!!
The world is a messed up place, man.

[zimbos_05]

I think patriotism can't exist when your country has constantly let you down.

The youth are connected. They see what others have and they want it too. Their country keeps asking of them, but does not provide for them, hence they feel no obligation to it. They also see the elder generations continually stealing for themselves and not giving back to them, so they dont have anything to uphold.

They have no jobs, no opportunity, no progress, no infrastructure so they have no willing to be patriotic. Patriotism does not put food on the table, and the youth are becoming more aware of this and starting to demand it more. So I think patriotism is perhaps dwindling, but it exists in small batches.

[eugene]

Ethiopia is actually quite prosperous these days. Zimbabwe could only dream of an Ethiopian economy.

[Googly]

Watching Sam Curran turn himself into a multi millionaire global superstar in one game of cricket last night was something you don’t see every day. Those two yorkers smacked of Malinga and he finally showed a bit of what he can do with the bat. If they’ve got any sense they’ll keep him up the order. Another couple of seasons and we might be looking at the no 1 T20 all rounder on the planet. His story makes youngsters want to become migrant border jumpers as opposed to being patriotic.

I know I’ve been accused of doom and gloom, but that really rams it home without lubrication. Sam Curran used to play age group cricket here where he didn’t open the bowling and whilst he was fantastic to watch with the bat, there were a couple of lads that were right up there with him. Youth development is not a photo shoot in Muzarabani where you give away some free T shirts. It’s shameful what has happened here, and what continues to happen. We still bizarrely produce a couple of good youngsters and we don’t have the skills to develop them or keep them here. As soon as any kid thinks he’s got a bit extra he wants to leave. It’s not just that we don’t have the skills, that’s been apparent to everyone in the world but ZC, but we don’t have the will or inclination.
Look at that IPL- our nonsense non existent youth development will never ever ever produce a Gill, a Shaw, a Curran. Cricket has moved on and we’re stuck in an 80’s mentality where a bank clerk playing semi-professional cricket can make some runs for Zimbabwe.
ZC want that situation- where our players are semi professional because they’re not prepared to pay anyone because they’re too busy helping themselves to the endless cash. If you’re not identifying real talent and getting them to hit hundreds of balls a week under expert supervision you’re wasting your time, plus another country will do it for you!! Then you can play the victim card. I want to say we need serious people running our cricket, but I fear it’s way too late.

Not reeling in Muyeye is like having a winning lotto ticket in your pocket when you’re taking a dump and not having toilet paper and using the ticket to wipe your arse. It’s that simple. I’d offer that kid right now 500k to come back here and then 10k a month. Zim won’t find a black batting prospect like that ever again. Fact. Save this post and rub my nose in it if I’m wrong in the next 5 years. Five years is all we’ve got as a full member nation, tops, probably less. I watched that kid play a T20 tournament and he’s a jaw dropping talent. All our muppets can do is go “nxaa” and dip into the till again.

[Googly]

When are we going to start playing T20? We’re suffering the indignity of trying to qualify, we’ve seen what happens when you don’t (including the CEO walking into the change rooms and shouting like you’re a lazy garden boy) and yet we haven’t even started yet and qualifiers are round the corner.
I have a sneaking suspicion that we will see Lake and perhaps Schardendorf being involved in the trials, whenever they’re going to happen. I’d like to see Lake in the side, he’s a really fine prospect.

ICC give us money for U19 development yet with 10 months to run and going into winter we’ve managed to only play Nigeria. Nigeria!!!!!
Sure they qualified, but that’s not preparation. Scorecards indicate can bowl a bit, but they can’t bat to save their lives. We’ve been given money so where are the games? Where’s the money?? If they pick the right players (Muyeye!!!), and I know a few of them, they’re not bad, but the reality is that they are off the pace of the other member sides. They’re up against sides who’s best players are playing FC and List A cricket, it’s not a fair contest.
They should have made them the 5th side in our domestic league, sure they’d get minced but without other options it’s the least they should have done. I heard they played a club side a few times and did ok, but probably should have given a better account of themselves if they’d been more experienced. Playing against men can overawe a kid, but if you do it a few times you’ll either sink or swim. The better players will swim. I’ve just heard that one of their key players is probably going to play club cricket in England for the season, whilst that will probably help his cricket it means there’s not much planned for the U19’s here for the winter. It sends a very poor message.

[Googly]

I’ve just watched Curran’s last over. The ball that got Rabada was an inswinger to a leftie, I didn’t even know he had that delivery. The next one was an inswinger to a rightie!! That was serious bowling, absolutely on the money yorkers. Unbelievable skill. I must admit that I thought he’d come up short at this level without a swinging red cherry, but he managed to get movement when it counted, and a few clever change ups, and cutters. At 20/21 he’s often single handedly won some big games.