adminBukhosi Mangena Sports Correspondent
ZIFA Southern Region Division One outfit Bantu Rovers will hold their pre-season trials over the weekend at Crescent Sports Club in a bid to strengthen their squads for the 2016 season.
The two-day trials will be held for all age groups that include the Under-14s, Under-16s and Under-18s and will be conducted by newly appointed juniors’ recruitment coordinator Dumaza Dube.
Preference will be given to successful academically gifted players, who will be given a shot at attaining either local or international scholarships. The club’s board last year resolved to change the format of junior development by including academic improvement of those they sign up.
Bantu Rovers’ general manager Wilbert Sibanda said they were not only focusing on the technical and tactical improvements but also the academic side because they wanted junior development to include the individual in every aspect.
“We will be holding our trials over the weekend to beef up our squads and we would like to urge those that are academically gifted to come too because they usually shy away from soccer. We will be giving them first preference as we’ve scholarships to both local and international schools to offer,” said Sibanda.
“As a club, we’ve resolved to also recruit tutors in the future for our boys so as to sharpen them academically as we prepare them for the international scholarships we will be offering.”
Bantu Rovers kicked off their pre-season training this week and are aiming to bounce back into the top flight in 2017 after acquiring six new players to strengthen their side.
They signed the Technosphere FC duo of Polite Moyo and Fortune Nkomazana, Bulawayo Chiefs captain Lindelani Ncube, Nust FC forward Elton Ndlovu, Mpopoma Pirates’ Jillian Nsingo and Ntabazinduna’s Joshua Wilson.
Online Reporter