adminSikhumbuzo Moyo, Senior Sports Reporter
FORMER Golden Boot winner Alois Bunjira plans to venture into mainstream coaching after years of involvement with junior football.
Bunjira, who scored an incredible 24 goals in 19 matches for Caps United in the 1996 season, runs a football academy based in Chitungwiza known as Albun Soccer Academy. The academy was formed in 2012.
He said it was time to sit in the dugout instructing the big boys, even as an assistant coach.
“I hope to get a breakthrough into mainstream coaching in Zimbabwean football as I am now ready and qualified. I believe I have what it takes as an assistant or even coach. I think it’s time,” said Bunjira.
Bunjira said if he doesn’t make a breakthrough in coaching, he would continue with his Albun Soccer Academy where he hopes to create opportunities for junior professional footballers.
“I also intend bringing in more experts to the academy to teach life skills to the boys. If all goes well, I would also want to start a girls’ side of the academy,” said the 41-year-old, who was first voted among the country’s best 11 players in his debut Premiership season in 1992 at the age of 17.
Some players churned out by his academy include Leeroy Bernard, who had a stint with Chapungu and is now on loan at Blue Swallows, Tatenda Tumba and Kelvin Shangiwa, who are at Harare City as well as Godknows Mutina who turns out for Nico United in Botswana.
“I have a few other boys in the First Division right now, but the rest of the older ones just finished Form Four this year,” said Bunjira, who also turned out for Darryn T, as well as Free State Stars and Mamelodi Sundowns in the South African Premiership.
Online Reporter