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Takudzwa Chitsiga Sports Reporter
AFTER successfully touring Mozambique where they won the Under-12 and Under-14 football tournaments, City Football Academy are scheduled to travel to Italy on October 28 for an exchange programme with several Milan-based clubs.
The Old Hararians-based club, who in 2020 had a successful tour of Spain, held a Kuwadzana Football Festival on Sunday which was hailed by ZIFA junior league development chairman Lloyd “Mablanyo” Chigowe. Chigove, who was the guest of honour at the event that was also graced by Dynanos legend David ”Broom Boy” George, Cuthbert Chitima, Cheetah Antonio and Marlon Jani, said grassroots football development is going in the right direction.
“I think there is so much progress in terms of academies aligning with ZIFA and the Sports Commission. We have some well-established academies who are complying, starting with the zonal areas which makes life easier for us at ZIFA.
“We are seeing so many young talent and by complying, the players will have contracts and there is no way the players will be poached by some agencies.
“It takes a village to groom a child and it is the same with football development as the players are nurtured from a young age and most of our academies do not benefit when the players finally make it on the big stage,” said Chigove.
FC Dutch, won the annual event that had five other teams, namely Real Saints, Mountain Academy, DZ Academy, Dreamers Academy, AS Academy and New Stars, taking part. The ZIFA Harare Province Division Two side FC Dutch managed to get the better of Glen Norah-based AS Academy 2-1 in the final to walk away with a floating trophy, medals and certificates.
Online Reporter