Online Reporter
Langton Nyakwenda
EXACTLY 30 years ago, Gift “Umbro” Muzadzi and Dumisani Mpofu were part of the national U-23 team that reached the All-Africa Games final on home soil before losing the gold medal to North African giants Egypt.
Muzadzi and Mpofu almost played together at the now defunct Darryn T.
But Mpofu joined Wieslaw Grabowski’s club from Rufaro Rovers at a time they were embroiled in a player transfer wrangle with the Premier Soccer League, which led to a massive deduction.
The development also forced Darryn T out of the elite league and into extinction.
Muzadzi and Mpofu reminisced about their careers last weekend when they linked up at the annual Yemurai Kanyangarara Football Tournament at Marondera Primary School in Chihota.
The tournament, which features primary and secondary schools from Chihota, is held in honour of the late Yemurai Kanyangara, a Zimbabwean who was stabbed to death in the United Kingdom in 2011.
In honour of her late son, Sharon Jambawo has now embarked on a journey to promote grassroots football development in Zimbabwe, especially in rural areas.
Jambawo has roped in Muzadzi, a renowned rural football development advocate, and Mpofu, who is urging top-flight coaches to seriously consider rural football talent.
“We don’t have to leave rural based kids behind when it comes to football development.
“Most people concentrate on urban areas and towns, forgetting we also have good talent in the rural areas, so I am urging all the football stakeholders and ZIFA itself to decentralise and include rural areas in their plans,” Muzadzi, who is now part of the technical team at PSL Kwekwe United, said.
He added: “Kids in the rural areas deserve the same chances as their counterparts in the urban areas. Those kids in the rural areas must not be treated like second class citizens.
“We have to be fair to every child in the country.
“Football must benefit everyone, from the farms, mines and all those areas.
“We do not have to discriminate when it comes to scouting.
“President Emmerson Mnangagwa has always reiterated that development should leave no place and no one behind.
“There is raw talent out there, what’s needed is for local leaders and businessmen to pull their resources together and uplift talented footballers in their areas.
“What Sharon Jambawo has done is commendable because she is giving a platform to kids from Chihota. Who knows, we might have the next big star from this part of Zimbabwe.”
Mpofu, who is currently not attached to any club, feels top-flight coaches need to “genuinely” cast their nets wider when scouting.
“I saw a lot of good young footballers in Chihota and I was actually surprised with the standard of play.
“It is clear Zimbabwe has got a lot of football talent scattered across the rural areas. “So, I am encouraging coaches to also try and visit these areas because if they don’t do so we risk losing talent.
“This issue has been raised countless times and it’s time to walk the talk and be genuine,” said Mpofu.
Hosts Marondera won gold in both primary and secondary school competitions.
