Online Reporter
Tadious Manyepo in BEIJING, China
JADEL Football Academy players were celebrated yesterday during a luncheon hosted by the Zimbabwe Embassy for winning the 100 Cup tournament.
The Jadel FA project’s Under 13 side, fusing Zimbabwean and Chinese players, triumphed over more than 100 other international clubs to lift the title.
Their victory was made sweeter by their unique composition, which made them a hit throughout the three-week competition.
The team is the talk of the town currently, with people from across the divide jostling for photos each time they meet them on the streets.
The Zimbabwe-based players had been scheduled to return home soon after the 43rd edition of the youth championship, but scouts and clubs alike proposed to have more time with them, playing and getting to assess some of the players who are being pursued by several international schools.
On Wednesday, the academy had a friendly game at an international school with scouts heavily present amid indications they are trekking at least three players to place on football scholarships.
And the Embassy invited them “home away from home” to congratulate them.
Speaking on behalf of the Zimbabwe Ambassador to China, Abigail Shoniwa, Pedzisai Peter Mwayera, who is Shoniwa’s deputy, said: “I would like to salute your gallantry.
“Winning the 100 Cup is a huge accomplishment because it’s a well-known tournament across the world.
“We would like to congratulate and honour you for displaying such an indomitable spirit. You are true Warriors.
“We would also want to salute the academy owner Walter Musanhu for helping reinforce our strong relations with China using sport.
“Musanhu is a true sports ambassador. No one spends more time with Chinese people in the streets than Musanhu here in Beijing.
“He has become an important figure in nurturing our relations with China when it comes to sport.”
Musanhu is based in China, where he founded Jadel FA in 2019 before installing the same back home the same year.
He regularly shuttles between Harare and Beijing for that sole business.
And his efforts to use football to break cultural barriers are bearing fruit, with most of the Chinese players now able to sing Shona and Ndebele words and vice versa.
“The support we always get from the Embassy is amazing,” said Musanhu.
“It’s because of them that we are here today. I would like to thank them for facilitating everything that needs to be completed for the purposes of football growth between China and Zimbabwe.”
