Binga receives Zifa equipment

Nkosilathi Sibanda, Sports Reporter

LAST Wednesday Zifa broke new ground when it finally remembered that Binga exists as they donated football equipment to 34 clubs and schools in the district.

Despite over a dozen very prominent Zimbabwean footballers such as legends Madinda Ndlovu and his brothers Peter and late Adam having Binga roots, very little has come the community’s way.

Last year former Caps United owner Twine Phiri and Reuben Mataka took their talent identification programme to the district and organised football tournaments where they identified some players for Twinmat Sports Academy.

Last Wednesday saw Zifa visiting the remote district.

The Normalisation Committee (NC) was in the district on a mission to distribute football development equipment under the Fifa Forward 2.0 project.

The delegation was led by the Fifa Forward country manager Kudzai Chitima and the NC committee member Rosemary Mugadza and they donated a consignment that comprised balls, nets and other football paraphernalia in what is hoped will stimulate football interest and translate to more stars being plucked out of the district.

Football coaches and administrators in Binga told Zimpapers Sports Hubs that the donation was a gift that is hoped will help change the course of football development in the tourism district.

Overall, 34 academies that include schools and community clubs benefited.

This was one of the biggest donations ever, to a district that has for long been marginalised.

With the Fifa Foward 2.0 project, a silver lining has shone, according to Binga sports community representative Recent Ncube.

“We are seeing the light now. We give thanks to the Zifa Normalisation Committee and the Fifa Foward 2.0 project. This is how football development ought to be. There is excitement in the whole district. In fact, we have never got such widespread support.

“We, as the beneficiaries, want to make sure that our young footballers are groomed and go on to perform at bigger stages. If more players from Binga are going to play elsewhere, the Fifa Foward 2.0 project will have worked. We want to be part of that dream,” said Ncube.

He bemoaned what was happening in the past when they were being left out.

“Binga District is full of talent but under resourced. This donation will go a long way in the promotion of talent. In the long run, sport will change the perception that Binga is marginalised. We would want young sportspersons from the area to grow up with the intention to excel and show the world that Binga is great and full of talent.

“As a district we have managed to form a junior zonal league. The country will benefit a lot from the abundant talent and imagine if 34 teams with 20 players each are reached out, it would mean a massive leap in our strides to secure a bright future for our children in sport.”
Binga Football Academy director Pride Ngwenya praised the NC.

“This has come at a time when we wanted the equipment as a district. This has brought confidence in parents, players and coaches in schools and academies.

“In the foreseeable future, we dream of a Binga where players will be on a pitch with billboards of sponsors’ logos, an environment that will change football in the district,” said Ngwenya.

Another recipient of the donations was Mangani Academy. The institution’s director Thulumbe Munkuli said they were grateful.
“At least for now we have all the equipment we need for the players to enjoy and learn the game without disturbance. We really appreciate,” he said.

Mugadza, said there was no better gift in grassroots development than the Fifa 2.0 project.

“This programme is part of the Normalisation Committee’s operational strategy to increase participation and competition at grassroots level. It will complement the Confederation of African Football’s Under-15 African Schools programme as well as other programmes coming up soon for junior development,” said Mugadza.

Chitima said the rolling out of the equipment was targeting areas that were not being supported in the past.

“It is a start in helping these academies to run their player development programmes in a manner that is going to benefit the country’s football.

The Fifa Forward project will reach out to the remotest and marginalised areas.

“That is the priority and it is in line with one of Fifa’s objectives to increase mass participation and give every talent a chance,” said Chitima.
From Binga, Chitima and the NC crew proceeded to Hwange and Victoria Falls. – @NkosieLegend.