Online Reporter
Moffat Mungazi
Sports Reporter
MUTASA District boasts rough gems of football talent that can be unearthed and polished into shining jewels if properly nurtured at the grassroots, Senator Chief James Mutasa has said.
Chief Mutasa made the bold assertion while giving his remarks during the NetOne Albun Honde Valley Marathon held last Saturday at the Eastern Highlands Plantations.
The district is proud home to some of the biggest names in domestic football, with the likes of former national team coach and captain, Norman Mapeza, ex-CAPS United gritty midfielder, Lloyd Chitembwe, former livewire Mamelodi Sundowns forward, Alois Bunjira, ex-Dembare star and two-time championship-winning coach, Tonderai Ndiraya, and seasoned administrators, Solomon Mugavazi and Cuthbert Chitima.
The latter pair even formed and owned local top-flight league football clubs – Monomotapa and Gunners respectively.
Both teams won the championship and represented Zimbabwe on the continental safari when they competed in the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Champions League. The owner of high-riding and ambitious newly-crowned local Premiership champions Scottland – Scott Sakupwanya – is also a native of Mutasa.
Chief Mutasa, a sports, fitness and wellness enthusiast himself, challenged the district’s prominent sons in football circles to play an active role in contributing towards the unearthing and polishing of the rough gems.
“Over the years, Mutasa District has produced football personalities that have gone on to make a name on the national front. Norman Mapeza, Lloyd Chitembwe and Alois Bunjira all come from this land and went on to play football at the highest level in the country. Solomon Mugavazi and Cuthbert Chitima are renowned administrators of the game who also hail from here. Now we have Scott Sakupwanya also doing well with his Scottland project.
“This is all proof that Mutasa is blessed with abundant raw football talent that needs to be properly developed at the grassroots to help it go places. I am challenging all these sons of ours I have mentioned to be heavily involved in identifying and developing young talent. The mentioned former players can be instrumental in catching them young and horning the youngsters’ skills while those former executives can take care of then administration side if need be,” he said.
Chief Mutasa said the active participation of some young people during the NetOne Albun Honde Valley Marathon displayed their enthusiasm to be involved in sporting activities.
He added that youths’ involvement in sport keeps them occupied and is instrumental in keeping them away from the scourge of drugs and dangerous substances abuse.
“We had some young people being involved in the marathon and their participation shows that they are keen on sport. Having a vibrant football factory in Mutasa District targeting youths will widen sporting options for them as well as broaden their horizons.
“Besides promoting the health and wellness of these young people, this initiative will also go a long way in tackling the drug and substance abuse menace bedevilling many communities. Developing grassroots football talent is also vital in providing youths with a career path to eventually turn professional,” said the revered traditional leader.
Acknowledging Chief Mutasa’s sentiments, former footballer, Bunjira, admitted that Mutasa District has potential to churn out budding talent.
Bunjira said it has always been part of his grant plan to help develop blossoming talent in the Eastern Highlands, a reason why he organised and hosted the Gazzaman Tournament in the district a few years ago.
“Indeed, there is plenty of football talent here where some of the big names in the domestic game trace their roots. Realising this, through the Albun Soccer Academy, we incepted the Gazzaman Under-17 Football Tournament in Honde Valley in 2016. It ran for four years before being disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic and we may consider reintroducing it,” he explained.
He revealed that Scottland forward, Michael Tapera, Edmund Ruwo of ZPC Kariba, GreenFuel’s Godknows Mutina and CAPS United winger, Junior Bunjira, among others, once participated in the GazzaMan U-17 Tournament.
Chicken Inn defender, Lincoln Mangaira, who traces his family roots to Honde Valley, is also a product of the tournament. The Dangamvura-bred utility player came into the limelight following a sterling outing during the 2016 edition of the Gazzaman U-17 Tournament after his team, Zero Stars finished as losing finalists.
Mangaira had stints with CAPS United, Triangle and Mutare City Rovers after turning professional.
