dyton mupawaenda
Langton Nyakwenda
THUGS, thieves, drug abusers and prostitutes all have a haven in this small and yet very densely populated township of St Mary’s in Chitungwiza.
There’s a high crime rate in this area as evidenced by the number of cases that are reported daily at St Mary’s Police Station.
Just a stone throw away from the police station is an area called CAA (Central African Airlines) but is popularly known as CA.
Before it became to be known as Air Zimbabwe, the national airline used to be called Central African Airlines, and because of its proximity to St Mary’s, hundreds of people from the suburb were employed by the airline.
Most of these employees benefited from a housing scheme by the airline and that’s how this area came to be known as CAA, or simply CA.
It became a permanent residence for many, before transforming into a breeding ground of football talent.
Yesteryear football stars like Alois and Allan Godzi, Kina Abel, Wellington “Money Maker” Shangiwa, Raphael and Ralph Kawondera, Zvidzai Kunaka, Darlington Mukwava and Gift Mudangwe were bred in this area.
A prominent member of the famous Dynamos Kidznet project, Ali Cassim, also hails from this area.
Former Mighty Warriors star Ennie Konje is also from this area.
Current footballers like 2019 Soccer Star of the Year runner up Ralph Kawondera (CAPS United), Wilfred Muvirimi (FC Platinum) and the MOWS duo of Kelvin Shangiwa and Bright Majamanda are some of the players from this part of Chitungwiza.
However, social vices like drug abuse and thuggery had combined forces to cut this football talent supply line, until recently, when a fresh academy was established.
Reward Academy is a modest football nursery that was founded two years ago by Nyasha Matanhire, who is on a campaign to drive away drug abuse.
“There is a lot of talent in the CA area and St Mary’s as a whole. Remember big stars like Stewart Murisa hail from St Mary’s but the area is now infested with dangerous activities like drug abuse.
“We have seen some soccer stars dying of drugs with some turning into criminals, so we came up with this idea that if we train these boys, there is nowhere they are going to think about drugs.
“They will only be thinking about how they can be a football star of tomorrow,” Matanhire, who is partnering Konje, said.
Reward Academy are part of the recently established Chitungwiza Football Development League (CFDL) which has all the youth age groups. The CDFL has already kicked off with an Under-15 tournament which is now at the quarterfinal stage.
CSPRO who are owned by former Warriors defender Costa Nhamoinesu, Farpost, Marisa, MC99, Newstars, Ramah, Sky Eagles and Victors are in the quarterfinals which will be staged at Chibuku today.
Vana Vedu, Sporting Braga, Montana Academy, Early Birds Academy, Nuggets Juniors, Grinders Academy, Brigmer Academy, Syncrone City, DT Africa and Junior Chiefs complete the league.
The winds of change are blowing in the dormitory town, as the founders of this league want to turn back the hands of time.
Tapfumaneyi Makufa (chairman) Livingstone Manhombo, Leslie Magaisa, Callistus Keche and Antony Chigavazira were instrumental in the formation of the junior league which has 18 teams. They want to rekindle the good old days when Chitungwiza was famous for grooming top football talent.
Norman Mapeza, Lloyd Chitembwe, Lloyd Mutasa, Alois Bunjira, Gift Muzadzi, Edelbert Dinha, Shingi Kawondera, and Murisa are some of the yesteryear stars who benefited from a sound junior football development system in the town.
Chairman of the league, Makufa, stressed the importance of football in the country’s fight against drug abuse amongst the youths.
“We saw it fit to take children out of the streets because they are wasting their lives through alcohol and drug abuse,” said Makufa.
“Our wish is to groom top players like what used to happen before. If someone is successful, he comes back and reinvest in the community.
“In fife to 10 years to come this can happen.
“The ultimate aim is to have a Premier Soccer League team in Chitungwiza, we used to have teams from here.”
Principal Sport and Recreation Officer for Chitungwiza in the Ministry of Sport, Arts and Recreation, Tawanda Chikono, has described the establishment of a youth league as a “great milestone.”
“This will have a huge impact in the identification, nurturing and development of football talent in Chitungwiza,” says Chikono.
“We applaud the football stakeholders in Chitungwiza for creating this platform and it is our fervent hope that the league will make great strides in the development of the game in the community.
“We however call upon the corporate world from Chitungwiza and beyond to fully support this noble cause that has the potential of placing Chitungwiza on the football map.”
Founding member of Vana Vedu junior football club, Chipo Muhamba, wants more women to be involved in junior football development. As mothers we should be giving these young boys the necessary guidance,” she said.
“Football can empower these boys and they will also have a sense of self-esteem,” added Muhamba.
Online Reporter