Chipaz Academy flourishing

Bruce Chikuni

AFTER realising the potential of Gokwe’s hidden talent, Mzondani Chipanga teamed up with his wife, Ngonidzashe, to establish Chipaz Academy.

It seems difficult to separate the name Chipaz with talent promotion.

In Harare, there is veteran music promoter, Partson Chimbodza, who ironically answers to the name Chipaz.

Chipanga chose the football developmental path, but promotion is their common denominator.

Chipaz Academy is making steady progress in instilling hope to underprivileged boys in Gokwe.

Last season, two players from the Academy made the grade at Paramount in the ZIFA Central Region Division One League.

At the moment, the trio of Shelton Marabanyika, Martin Mudara and Godknows Ngwenya are training with Yadah Stars.

For good measure, it underlines how the academy is helping the development of football, not just at grassroots, but at rural level.

Recently, another player from this stable, Vincent Wedhe, was invited to be guest player for Prince Edward Academy at the Chipziq Under-17 tournament in Tanzania.

However, Chipanga acknowledged that it has not been a flawless journey.

The project is somehow facing resistance from some parents who are ages behind the operation of an academy.

“Most of these kids are not allowed to play football by their parents because it clashes with their daily routines like herding cattle and we have to convince the parents to let the two co-exist,” said

“We are slowly achieving what we planned for this project, but we got some parents who hardly understand the set-up of an academy.

“Some demand that we should pay these youngsters forgetting that an academy is just there to equip the child with all the necessary basics just like what they do at school.”

He revealed that they are planning to join the Division Two league to help the youngsters to get exposure.

“It has not been an easy road from the beginning, taking into consideration that we are based in the rural area where there is totally raw talent,” he said.

“I’m satisfied with our progress, our academy is registered with ZIFA and we now have almost full equipment.

“We are dreaming big, we want to be the source and distributor of Zimbabwe talent to all the exciting leagues.

“We are currently focusing on constructing a club house with modern training grounds. We already have site plans for the club house.”