admindiscovery of a number of young players with Zimbabwean links in UK, The Herald recently managed to track Mikaeel White, son of Charles “Chari Maskiri” White who played for the then Rhodesia Under-14s, Rusape United and Meikles before moving to DMB Tigers as a linkman.
Charles White also played for Arcadia United’s reserve team in the early ’80s.
Zimbabwe-born Mikaeel is 1.7m athletic, yet talented and is a skilful 16-year-old player who was scouted by English side Barnet at 15 years of age.
He is currently signed up on a two-year college and football scheme and plays in the Barnet Development Squad.
Mikaeel is studying sports therapy, physical training, sports management and wants to go to university to study Sports Science.
Nicknamed “Miki” by his teammates at Barnet, Mikaeel played against Spanish club Almeria’s Under-17 side on October 21 2010 at the age of 15 during his trials for Barnet.
He impressed playing behind two strikers as Barnet beat Almeria at the Hive 2-0.
His next match was against Tottenham Hotspur’s development squad, beating them 2-1 last year in November 2010 at The Hive, Barnet’s £12million training complex that was opened by England manager Fabio
Capello and Trevor Brooking (Knighted), a former West Ham and England national team player.
Even at 16, these young lads play in the England FA Cup competition of which the maximum age is 18.
The cup was won last year by Manchester United and in 2009 by Arsenal captained then by Jack Wilshire who was in the same squad with Emmanuel Jay Thomas and Emmanuel Frimpong who later moved on to
play for the Gunners’ first team. Because of the large contingent of 30 players, Barnet have two teams in the Development Squad that have games lined up against Fulham, Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur, Charlton and English Colleges.
On Wednersday, Miki was slotted into left back position against Watford and they drew 3-3.
However, the reason for being played in that position was so as he can experience and see and feel what it is like to mark a winger as he is sometimes used as a winger.
He was taught most of his skills by his father “Chari Maskiri” but learnt the rest from others and inventing his own. Miki was scouted by Chelsea and had begun a two-month trial period with them.
But after two weeks, he was told by his agent to stick to Barnet as Chelsea have too many young players whom they discard or send to other clubs if they do not make the grade.
He was told he is better off at Barnet where he has a chance to play regular football. Barnet are in the English N-Power League Division Two.
Miki played during school holidays in England when he was 13 for Sundon Park Rangers where he was seen by a Barton Rovers (Bedford) scout who expressed interest in him.
But Miki’s parents opted that he write and finish his “O” Levels in Zimbabwe as the standard of education was high while at Prince Edward High School in Harare. However, the opportunity came knocking and his former team manager Syd Thorn (Sundon Park Rangers) convinced Miki’s parents that he has a football future and arranged for him to join his father in the UK. Asked if he would play for the Zimbabwe junior teams if chosen, Miki said “at the drop of a hat . . . yes.” However Miki is entitled to play for South Africa since his late mother Shahieda is South African, or England, Wales, Scotland and even Northern Ireland if he takes up British citizenship since his grandfather is Irish-Scottish.
Said Charlie White: “Do not get me wrong, the Zimbabwean youngsters are just as skillful if not better, but for better facilities, more games, technique, systems, set-pieces and football education the kids in the Diaspora may have an advantage.”
Online Reporter