Online Reporter
Tedious Manyepo-Zimpapers Sports Hub
AS they set off for their tour of China, Zimbabwean development institution Jadel Football Academy received just the tonic they needed when the domestic game’s emerging all-weather friend Pedzai “Scott” Sakupwanya made a significant contribution towards the trip.
Sakupwanya was joined by another local businessman Paul Tungwarara with the former injecting US$30 000 and the latter weighing in with US$10 000. Players, coaches and officials from the academy left the country for China, via the United Arab Emirates late yesterday.
They are expected to touch down in Beijing, China tonight where their Under-11 and Under-13 sides will contest in the week long Thaiwoo Cup pencilled in for Thaiwoo from July 23.
The tournament draws youth teams from all over the world and JFA, who made their bow in last year’s edition will be out to make a mark.
After featuring in the Thaiwoo Cup, JFA will seek to defend the 100-Team Cup, which they won last year with the tourney which regularly attracts hordes of scouts, scheduled for Beijing from August 8-16. JFA founder and director Walter “Ringers” Musanhu, who for years has been self-funding the project, is happy with the support the academy has received from different individuals and companies.
“I am happy to be seeing respected businessmen and big corporates coming on board to back the JFA project.
“We have been determined right from Day One and last year we managed to fly high the Zimbabwean flag in the 100-Team Cup in Beijing.
“The world got to notice and I couldn’t be happier seeing respectable figures like Pedzai “Scott” Sakupwanya and Paul Tungwarara coming on board to finance our mission,” said Musanhu.
“A huge shout-out to individuals like Desmond Ali and corporates like Ezulwini Lodges for also extending their helping hand for this cause.
“The JFA project is more than just an academy. We have set out to help groom the next generation of Warriors who will be able to qualify for the World Cup in 2034. “This is the reason why we have incorporated kids from different areas across the country into this project.
“As we progress with the vision, we will take up more talented kids and we will be putting them together for them to assimilate the same philosophy.
“What we are doing are the first steps towards that bigger picture and to have individuals and corporates backing us is quite inspiring and motivating. We can do more with this kind of support.” JFA’s prodigies are not short on experienced hands with seasoned coaches leading them in China. They have in their ranks Black Rhinos and Zimbabwe legend Stanford “Stix” Mtizwa and ex-Dynamos goalkeeper Tichaona Diya.
