A MAN RUNNING 14 PROFESSIONAL CLUBS

Tadious Manyepo

Zimpapers Sports Hub

TAFADZWA Benza has become a central figure in the administration of football in this country.

His stable, Herentals, now have 14 professional teams as they continue to spread their wings far and wide across the country.

Recently, they forged a partnership with Victoria Falls City to put together a Southern Region Soccer League side Herentals Victoria Falls team.

Some of the Herentals U20 players have since been added to that side to give it a competitive edge.

The Herentals Group of Schools and Colleges have now added another female side, Herentals Queens Juniors, which is based in Kwekwe and will compete in the Central Region Division One.

There will also be several Division 2 teams under the Herentals banner in Mbare, Mutasa, Harare Main, Chinhoyi, Kadoma and Bulawayo to add on to the flagship teams which play in the Premier Soccer League and championship-winning Herentals Queens.

The institution also has a vibrant academy, which caters for both girls and boys, with over 20 000 players being nurtured.

This is in line with the institution’s chairman Benza’s vision of spreading the game to all corners of the country as well as empowering the girl child using football.

“Look, we are preaching inclusivity and this is what we mean. We have Herentals Queens who are doing exceptionally well in the Women’s Soccer League where they have won the league title in the past three seasons.

“It means we have so many girls out there who, if nurtured, can help put our country on the international football map.

“So we are giving them the platform where they can showcase themselves.

“We now have 14 professional teams as well as a vibrant academy.

“We need to maximise on women’s participation and as Herentals, we are committed to seeing the number of women in the game increasing.”

Benza said this is the same vision he intends to take to ZIFA if he gets the nod to become an executive member in the elections set for tomorrow.

The actuarial scientist, known for rejecting professional job offers from overseas just for the love of the game back home is one of the contenders for the available six slots for the ordinary board member posts.

“I love the game and inclusivity is what drives my passion. We should see the game being played in every corner of the country and by both genders.

“Football has the potential to become one of the biggest employers and we have shown that at Herentals where we have over 1000 employees directly involved in the game.”