adminTHE Zimbabwe Football Association will come down hard on age-cheats by banning clubs caught encouraging the practice.
Zifa Bulawayo Province chairman Washington Chimanda said the national football body viewed age cheating as a serious offence and that they would take stern measures to stop the rot.
Addressing the Bulawayo Provincial Under-20 football team that came second at the recently ended annual National Youth Games held in Masvingo, Chimanda said he was glad the side was made up of players whose ages were within the set limit.
“I am happy that all our players were of the correct age. As Zifa we shall not take lightly to age cheating. I would like to warn the would-be offenders in this regard that as an association we shall take stern action on anyone involved.
“Age cheating does not only destroy the career of the player but also affects the nation as a whole particularly when it comes to the selection of the national teams since it is misleading,” said Chimanda.
Chimanda praised the province’s technical team led by former Zimbabwe and Zimbabwe Saints striker Agent “Ajila’’ Sawu for great talent and their effort to fish out quality players who stood their own against other provincial sides.
Chimanda noted that the team conceded only one goal on their way to the final, which he said was a sign of the strength of the squad and quality of the goalkeepers.
“May I take this opportunity to congratulate the technical staff for having assembled a strong team. I am aware of the logistical challenges they faced but still they managed to keep the morale of the players high and positive.
“I would like to extend my gratitude to Willsgrove Markets director, Joseph Mutero, who donated a bag of oranges on each day of training. The (Zifa Bulawayo Province) vice-chair, Francis Ntuta did well to monitor progress in camp while Mkhululi Mthunzi was crucial in the preparation of the tournament,” said Chimanda.
On their way to the finals, the Bulawayo squad drew their first match on a nil all scoreline against the host province, Masvingo while they beat Mashonaland West 6-0 before humbling the Under-17 national team that will feature in the Region Five Youth Games provincial 3-1.
In their fourth match the team overcame an over-confident Harare 1-0 and again beat Mashonaland West 1-0 in the semi-finals and then lost to Masvingo 4-3 on penalties in the final.
“We lost in the final on penalty shootout because it was not our day but the boys acquitted themselves well. I have no doubt that from this select team we are going to have quite a number of players in the national teams,” said Chimanda.
He urged the players to maintain discipline on and off the field, adding restraint in any sport was critical.
“I encourage you to desist from partaking in drugs and alcohol as this is the downfall of many sportspersons as these reduce performance and focus. Indulging in sexual activity at an early age also poses its own risk and we would like to urge you to delay this activity.
“We often hear sad stories of footballers playing in the Premier Soccer League who abuse alcohol and take drugs such as marijuana and cough mixtures popularly known as ngoma, I advice you not to emulate them as such behaviour is not worth emulating,” said Chimanda.
The welcome ceremony was attended by various sports personalities that included Zifa Southern Region chairman, Musa Mandaza, former Highlanders’ player and coach Cosmas “Tsano’’ Zulu who assisted in training the team’s goalkeepers, Ntuta, Zifa Southern Region board member, Jabulani Chinyengerere and Zifa honourary life member, Cecilia Malunga.
Bulawayo Province Under-20 Youth Team
Wandile Ndlovu, Given Kutsanzira, Derick Chisale, Muziwethu Sibindi, Farai Chirava, Ronald Chuma, Timan Tom, Njabulo Mpofu, Michael Bhebhe, Prince Gambe, Stanley Ngala, Brandon Dube, Obriel Chiranda, Mbekezeli Sibanda, Hussein Zvakavapano, Antony Nyatsanga, Denzel Khumalo, Leeroy Chasveka, Mongameli Ndlovu, Prosper Mafunga
Technical team:
Head coach — Agent Sawu
Assistant coach — Shadreck Mlauzi
Team manager — Marko Dube
Online Reporter