CFL counting their blessings

Panashe Mabeza

Following an oversubscribed talent-scouting exercise at Prince Edward school, which has since been extended to tomorrow, the Under 21 Challenge Football League has already begun preparing for a new season.

The scouts, Nigeria’s Moo Muhammed Mustapha and Portugal’s Miguel Angelo Ferreira Almeida began their identification exercise yesterday.

Fifteen impressive budding players stand a chance of being placed at various clubs in Europe.

The exercise, dubbed ‘The World’s Biggest Scouting Event’, was originally meant to be a two-day event ending today.

However, Premiership clubs have requested to send their juniors for assessment tomorrow.

Former Zimbabwe international defender Dickson Choto, whose club DC Academy are a member of the CFL, is helping to coordinate the talent search.

While the search can only take in 15 players, the CFL, basking in the glory of a successful inaugural season, are confident of a better 2020.

CFL chairman Farai Dhliwayo, who is also the founder of Legends Academy, said they are looking at opening their doors to two more institutions.

The league currently has six academy clubs registered under it, namely Cranborne, DC, Eagles, Galaxy, Legends and Sportsvale.

“Next year, we intend to expand the league and open two more slots to progressive academies that share our vision.

“We will also be holding open trials for new players, and these trials will begin as early as next month.

“The objective is to provide the players with a competitive league where they can develop and showcase their talent before being transferred to professional clubs,” Dhliwayo said.

However, the CFL boss is worried by Zifa’s inertia in driving football development.

“The lack of investment in grassroots youth development is in direct contrast to our contemporaries in Europe. The league aims to ease the burden on the local clubs in as far as talent identification and grooming is concerned.

“Zifa promised to start junior soccer leagues this year. We are now in October and nothing has happened yet.

“It is very disheartening. Zifa has not supported us this season in attaining our vision.

“Although we presented our CFL programme to Zifa in March, we did not receive any funding from the mother body. However, we managed to play football and have a successful season, which was our goal.

Several academies from across the country have bemoaned the lack of Zifa’s support when it comes to identifying and nurturing talent.