…players, fans threaten boycott
Zimdailyjournal Reporter
Once a beacon of social connection and football passion fueled by its association with Zimbabwean superstar Winky D, Vigilance FC now finds itself teetering on the brink of implosion.
What began as whispered accusations and internal friction last year has erupted into full-blown chaos, threatening to tear apart one of the nation’s most prominent social clubs.
The causes of the crumble are hinged on a web of mismanagement, division, and alleged self-interest, masterminded from the shadows by the infamous lawyer Yinashe Mundawarara, famously known as El Chapo.
Vigilance FC’s rise was a grassroots fairytale.
Built on the dedication of founders Benjamin Chirimuhanzu (Mapancho), Paul Marazanye (King Rhodesia), Jefrey Kwinji, and Tichawoma Muchawarira, prominently known as Kaka, the club initially thrived on pure passion.
“Players dug deep into their own pockets for transport, kits, and refreshments.
“Their connection to Winky D’s brand name drew crowds and a loyal following.
“Success blossomed further when the club capitalised on its popularity, designing and selling coveted customised kits.
“Profits flowed in, promising a golden era where player burdens could finally be lifted, and Vigilance could become the envy of Zimbabwean social football,” said an insider.
Accusations of financial mismanagement flew among the founders.
Trust evaporated.
“Some executive members found themselves suspended, a move reportedly orchestrated on the advice of El Chapo, who was brought in under the guise of being a fixer, a legal mind to “put the house in order.”
“Mundawarara, a figure with rumored close ties to Winky D’s manager, Banda, and a history within Zim Lawyers structures, arrived with an air of authority.
“Instead of solutions, El Chapo brought deeper division and controversy.
“His signature initiative, “Vigilance in the Community” (VIC), launched with fanfare, quickly became the epicenter of the club’s troubles,” said another insider.
While presented as charitable outreach, whispers grew into shouts that VIC primarily benefited individuals outside the club structure, siphoning vital resources.
Astonishingly, players were still funding their own kits and transport, even as club kit sales supposedly boomed.
Vigilance in the community, critics alleged, was running directly “on the expense of the club,” diverting profits that should have sustained the players and basic operations of the social club.
The disconnect became glaring.
A profitable social club, buoyed by player sacrifice and fan loyalty, couldn’t afford to support its own team.
Winky D himself distanced his brand from the initiative, a significant blow to its credibility and a clear signal of concern.
El Chapo’s reign saw further fractures and he engineered a split within the passionate supporter base, creating the “Pink and White Committee.”
“The Pink faction, perceived as loyal to El Chapo, was rumored to receive preferential treatment, fostering resentment and a toxic hierarchy among fans.
“Simultaneously, cracks appeared externally. Kit manufacturers and branding companies started complaining about El Chapo’s unprofessionalism – late payments, changing demands, and chaotic communication.
“The most damning evidence came from the club’s bank, the account was virtually empty.
By April, the pressure forced the executive’s hand. El Chapo was officially suspended and relieved of his duties within Vigilance FC’s structures.
“But it was too little, too late, and arguably, not genuine. The chaos didn’t subside; it merely shifted. El Chapo, it seems, never truly left.”
Operating from the shadows, he found a willing conduit in Mapancho, one of the original founders, who has consistently fought in El Chapo’s corner.
Using Mapancho as his shield and mouthpiece, El Chapo continues to exert influence, particularly concerning his pet project, VIC.
“Now, Vigilance FC stands divided, players disillusioned and self-funding, supporters warring amongst themselves, founders at odds, finances in disarray, and the toxic legacy of El Chapo’s interventions lingering like a bad smell.
“The club built on vigilance now faces its greatest threat from within, orchestrated by a lawyer whose community initiative seems to benefit everything but the community of Vigilance FC itself.
“The question on everyone’s lips: Why is El Chapo, through Mapancho, still so desperately clinging to VIC?,” added another source.
