adminCollin Matiza Sports Editor
A NEW soccer academy has sprung up in Mbare and its main aim is to restore the reputation this old Harare high-density suburb once had of being the productive hub of talented young players who later plied their trade in the local top-flight.
Named Maxi Academy, this soccer “preparatory school” is the brainchild of its UK-based director and founder, Isaac “Zopa” Tonje and will be run by former Dynamos speedy winger Eric “Flashish” Aisam.
Speaking from his base in London yesterday, Tonje said the academy is going to cater for young kids who are under the age of 13 and is restricted to 20 players who stay in and around the surrounding areas of Mwamuka Street near Chitsere Primary School in Mbare.
“The initial phase of ‘The Academy’ is to enrol 20 kids (12-13 years old). Discussions are underway to appoint Eric Aisam as the Academy Director.
“With his vast experience, we hope to have a fruitful and successful working relationship with him for the advancement of our community. I would like to thank all those working behind the scenes mapping out strategies and those supporting the project,” Tonje said.
In fact, a number of gifted players who later went on to play for the country’s top sides such as Dynamos, Black Rhinos and CAPS United hailed from the surrounding areas of Chitsere Primary School in Mbare in the 1970s and 1980s.
Among them are the legendary goalkeeper Japhet “Shortcat” Mparutsa, the Aisam brothers Eric and Chamu, Anthony Kambani, Bernard Timbenawo and Munyari Chikwenga.
And Tonje said he would like to revive the once vibrant junior development programme in Mbare through his Maxi Academy.
“I’ve already sent some football kit there to Zimbabwe which I sourced here in the UK for the academy and it includes jerseys and boots for the youngsters. In fact, I bought the soccer kit at Nike store and the boots from Decathlon who are both here in London.
“The idea is to have the kids getting used to playing football with the boots at an early age, learning techniques and tactics, but the emphasis will be on fitness and physical aspects of the game.
“We would like to establish a football school and the idea is not for the kids to just kick a ball, but to learn the basics of the game early hence our decision to start the academy with the Under-13s and then rope in other age-groups at a later stage.
“We are in the process of identifying the kids for registration.
“We also want the kids to improve academically and that is why the academy will be based at Chitsere Primary School which used to be the home of such great players like Japhet Mparutsa, who is arguably the best goalkeeper to emerge from Zimbabwe in the post-Independence era and Anthony Kambani, who everyone there in Zimbabwe knows that he is one of the finest midfielders to play in the then Super League in the 1980s,” Tonje said.
Former Dynamos right winger Eric Aisam is also a product of Chitsere Primary School and is coming in as the academy’s head coach.
In fact, Eric Aisam has of late been heavily involved in coaching junior players in Mbare and running Maxi Academy will fulfil his cherished dream of producing talented young players who would later go on to play for Zimbabwe.
“In Eric Aisam, I think we have a person who is passionate about junior football and its development. He is a seasoned coach who I think will work well in the development of the young players at our academy and I’m going to pull all the resources from my base here in England to make this project a great huge success.
“I understand Stanley Chirambadare, Alois Bunjira and George Jojo are also involved in junior development programmes there in Zimbabwe and I would also like to commend them for everything they are doing in identifying and developing talent in our country,” Tonje said.
Former Dynamos leftback Chirambadare is now running Revival Soccer Academy in Mufakose while CAPS United legend Bunjira has his own Albun Academy in Chitungwiza and the players from the two academies trained together at David Livingstone Primary School in Harare at the weekend.
Jojo, who used to coach the now-defunct Premiership side Monomotapa, is also heavily involved in nurturing junior talent at his Eastlea Academy which is based at Churchill Boys High School in Harare.
Online Reporter