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Fungai Muderere
THE Raylton Young Flying Stars Football Academy has received a timely boost after National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) recently leased their Bowling Club to the academy for use as a club house.
The academy, which has former Railstars, Highlanders and Shabanie Mine speedy winger Collin Nyambiya as its director has been in existence for the past four years.
a�?We are extremely elated for the gesture that NRZ showed us as a company. We are grateful that they leased their bowling club to us about three months ago. We are now using the facility as our clubhouse. This follows some renovations that we did on the facility,a�? said Nyambiya who works hand in glove with another former Railstars player Master Masiku and ex-Mighty Warriors captain Nomsa a�?Boyza�? Moyo.
a�?I and Master are former Railstars players who once worked as artisans at NRZ. I must say we are NRZ sons thata��s why we had the courage to ask for the place,a�? added the pint-sized Nyambiya while he was monitoring the academya��s Under-10 morning workout on Wednesday.
Masiku, a former national team utility player, was a stonea��s throw away guiding the academya��s Under-14 squad that has gifted players that include Fundani Sinyolo, Prosper Mangeni, Ashely Machingura (11) andA� Nigerian Mathew Nzeni who goes to Christian Brothers College.
The clubhouse now has a refreshing outlook after it was repainted with the academya��s Brazilian colours. It also has a changing room, bathroom, lounge and an aerobics centre.
NRZ also leased out bowling fields to the academy which Nyambiya said would soon change to soccer fields.
Nyambiya also revealed that they had since set up a catering business where his mother Charity Nyambiya works as a chef.
Charity is a qualified chef who once worked at Llewellin Barracks Hospital in the same capacity.
a�?This business entity is meant to help us raise funds for the academy. Ita��s a project that always needs cash and as such Ia��m happy to say people are coming in numbers to buy food everyday. We have workers from NRZ, students on apprentice and students from Lupane State University who come to our clubhouse to buy meals. We are also looking for sponsorship,a�? he said.
The catering centre provides free lunch to the budding football stars.
The academy is home to at least 70 up-and-coming football stars who go to schools that include Falcon College, Plumtree High, CBC, Mzilikazi, Milton and Moray Primary among other academic institutions.
Their youngest trainee is Ian Pasi (5) who joined the academy six months ago. Pasi is in the Under-10 age group together with Tanaka Marara, Peter MalunduA� and Collin Mlangeni among others.
Adolf Muganyi, son to ex-Njanji midfielder, Ackim, is a product of the academy and he now turns out for Castle Lager Premier Soccer League outfit How Mine.
Online Reporter