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Ricky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter
WHAT should athletes do after participating in competitions? Is it proper for sportspersons to recap the day by indulging in alcohol? This week, Saturday Leisure sought to address the matter with the bias on footballers who happen to belong to the most beautiful game.
Last week, our sister paper H-Metro carried a story on Caps United players who were seen imbibing in “wisewaters” a few hours after their 1-2 defeat to rivals Dynamos.

It was unfortunate that the Green Machine players were spotted by the long lenses of the tabloid paper and hence that made a story.

A similar thing happened last year when Highlanders’ Njabulo “Tshiki” Ncube was spotted with teammates having drinks at a local nightspot after their defeat to DeMbare at Barbourfields Stadium and that incensed some of Bosso’s faithfuls who were finding it hard to swallow the defeat.

Just what do former players have to say about going out after the matches?

“There is nothing wrong with having one or two drinks after the loss as you will be drowning your sorrows. I think what is important is what you do on the field of play rather than your life after work. However, this doesn’t mean that you have to consume lots of beer as it will definitely catch-up with you. So players have to be responsible in their drinking,” said former soccer star Zenzo Moyo whose illustrious career took him to Europe.

What then are the quantitites one is expected to take to be said to have consumed responsibly?

“I think a six-pack is fine. But the problem is that these players drink at pubs and once people see them downing five bottles, they are labelled as ‘German tankers’,” Moyo said.

Ex-Hwange striker Oswald Sibanda believes there is nothing wrong with partying after matches as long as one ensures that he works hard to get his body back in shape.

“I have been to Europe and I’ve seen footballers drinking worse than our own. I think the difference is that they have supplements and have proper diets which they follow. I see no reason why players must not cool down after a hard day in office by having a few drinks. Isn’t they have the whole of the next day to recover?” argued Sibanda.

Many at times footballers, especially from Bulawayo clubs, are regulars at “AmaSunday” drinking parties which last up to the wee hours of Monday morning.

Mkhuphali Masuku said; “Nothing beats discipline whether it’s on or off the field. For one’s career to flourish one has to balance his private life with his playing job. The problem is that these players drink a lot and don’t complement that with proper diets.

“Personally, I think players should drink during the off-season and that is being responsible,” said Masuku.

However, National University of Science and Technology’s faculty of Sports Science lecturer Bhekuzulu Khumalo said alcohol affects athletes’ performance.

“Rest is a key component of training because after loading it is necessary to relax. Clubbing is not bad but if athletes go there to indulge in alcohol then they are doing themselves more harm than good, especially if it is done regularly. Alcohol has components that slow down recovery as the system has to regenerate energy.

“After training or participating in demanding competitions, it is advisable to take lots of fluids and carbohydrates. Alcohol has carbohydrates that are not required for athletes and also causes dehydration that works against performance.

“In the case of footballers, because their sport is very demanding and has high intensity, it is necessary to have a proper cool down. The problem that I have realised is that the process of cooling down is not done properly and after that the player goes on to load alcohol into his system. I will be extreme in explaining what one will be doing to his body when they do this. It’s like using a toilet and not flashing, you return to the same toilet tomorrow and you don’t clean it and continues to accumulate dirt. The body has some products that accumulate when one is in action and they need to be discarded by a proper cool down.

“Another thing that I have also noted is most of those injuries that hit footballers can be traced back to those “wisewaters” that they tend to take.

They have to avoid going out after every game but there is no problem with having a drink once in a while. They have off-season to party,” said Khumalo.