Andrew
Don Makanyanga
Sports Reporter
IT might be an area famed for its fruits, especially bananas, but there is another side to Honde Valley in Manicaland Province.
The area happens to be a hub from where some of the country’s best football talent has emerged.
Norman Mapeza, Alois Bunjira, Lloyd Chitembwe, Japhet “Short Cat” Mparutsa, Blessing Makunike (late) and Wilbert Mandiopera are some of the notable names in local football who trace their roots to this Eastern Highlands rural enclave.
Mapeza, who later grew up in Chitungwiza, had an illustrious career as a player, which saw him playing in the UEFA Champions League with Turkish giants Galatasaray.
He also captained the Warriors.
Currently, he is having a fine club coaching career, guiding FC Platinum to two of their three league titles.
In 2008, he won the championship with the now-defunct Monomotapa.
It is also a similar tale with CAPS United coach Chitembwe, who guided Makepekepe to the 2016 championship.
And, just like Mapeza and Bunjira, Chitembwe traces his life journey to Honde Valley.
He, however, later honed his skills in Chitungwiza, where he would star for Darryn T, and had stints in Poland and South Africa. He also won three league titles with CAPS United as a player in 1996, 2004 and 2005. Former Dynamos and Black Rhinos goalminder Mparutsa is also a Honde Valley product who was the first goalkeeper to win the Soccer Star of the Year accolade in 1992 while at DeMbare.
Bunjira, who also played for Bidvest Wits and Mamelodi Sundowns, was also part of the CAPS United team that won the club’s first league title in 1996, as was Makunike.
The illustrious footballers that came from Honde Valley have inspired those involved in football in the area to identify and nurture more talent.
Hauna Sweepers has since taken the initiative of tapping from the talent factory.
Made up of former footballers, the institution has made talent identification its major objective.
“Considering the number of high-profile players that have come from this area (Honde Valley), we believe that there is a lot of unidentified talent in Honde Valley.
“As Hauna Sweepers, we believe that we can produce the next generation of stars like we have done in the past,” said Kudzai Nyabereka, Hauna Sweepers’ director.
Nyabereka said the advent of social media has also helped “Honde Valley sons reconnect’’.
Resultantly, the number of junior teams in the area has grown from two to 22 in the last decade.
“With the advent of social media, we managed to track some of the senior players that have come from Honde Valley.
“Having some former players like Mapeza, Chitembwe, Bunjira coming for tournaments has had a positive impact, as it generated a lot of interest among the youth.
“We have seen the number of clubs growing from just two to 22 due to the visits of our former sons from Honde Valley.”
Bunjira, who has his own academy in Chitungwiza, was appointed Hauna Sweepers’ patron.
He feels that Honde Valley is a talent factory. “It is with no doubt that there is a lot of untapped talent in Honde Valley, and it is a talent hub for Zimbabwe, hence that is why I accepted to be patron of Hauna Sweepers.
“This is one rural area that has managed to unearth talent that has gone to represent Zimbabwe at national team level, talk of Mapeza, Chitembwe, Mparutsa, Makunike, Joseph Takaringofa and David Mandigora. I believe with adequate resources we can produce another generation of stars,” he said. He revealed that plans were underway to establish a school of excellence in the rural areas, while synergies with Premiership clubs have been created.
“We have identified a number of players that we will be bringing to Harare and place them in reputable academies.
“We have also had talks with other Premiership clubs which will see players being placed there.
“With such an exposure of these players, we are hopeful that we will unearth stars that can continue carrying the flag of Honde Valley,” added Bunjira.
Online Reporter