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Tadious Manyepo
Sports Reporter
BILL Antonio has been hyped.
Maybe over-hyped. Probably because he plays for the biggest team in the country.
The Dynamos winger has even secured a trial with top Belgian team KV Mechelen.
Indications suggest he passed the trials.
But, with the September 3 transfer deadline fast approaching without the speedy winger being officially conducted, he might have to wait a bit longer before he secures the dream move to Belgium.
The former Prince Edward Academy man is dangerous when he is in possession of the ball.
He has had very good moments.
He has rescued Dynamos once this season when he danced past Black Rhinos defenders to score a brilliant individual goal that helped the Glamour Boys to a 2-1 victory at the National Sports Stadium.
He has three goals to his name and two assists.
He has grabbed all the headlines but is he the best Under-20 player in the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League?
Antonio has consistently been criticised for his lack of industry when the team is chasing the ball.
He has been able to win very few duels and he is not a good dribbler besides being blessed with speed.
His statistics are not even the best as compared to his age-mate Tafadzwa Jim who has played far less games than Antonio.
Jim has started just 10 games for Herentals and has eight substitute appearances.
He has completed a whopping 25 dribbles while his silkiness has given him 11 assists while notching five goals for himself.
Herentals are performing well this season and they are well on course to finish in the top four while they still have a chance in the Chibuku Super Cup after dumping Ngezi Platinum Stars in the first round last week.
Jim has been in the thick of things in all the games that Herentals have won, engineering, assisting or scoring the goals himself.
This is a boy, just like Bill, who didn’t get a chance to play in the top-flight two years after being signed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Jim is a graduate of the once-vibrant CAPS United junior policy and his target this season is to win the Chibuku Super Cup and finish the season in the top four.
“This is my first season in the top-flight league. I am loving everything and I just hope to continue doing what I know best.
“I am a boy who dreams. I always train hard and try to improve those areas I feel need polishing up,” he said.
“I am not yet at the level I think I can reach. I will keep on working hard. I knew I wasn’t going to play every game when I signed and the 18 matches that I have played are many.
“I would like to thank my technical department for their faith in me. I need to keep on working hard.”
Jayden Bakare might be playing for lowly Whawha but he could be the best teenager in the Premiership right now.
WhaWha, for their lack of resources, have not been short on playing entertaining football.
And they have some of the best individual players in their ranks including Bakare.
He was Antonio’s teammate at Dynamos Juniors but found himself out of favour when he expected to graduate into the senior team.
He found a home at the Gweru-based Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services team.
And he has scored eight goals and provided five assists for them.
Of course, his teammates are not complementing him enough.
He was almost snatched by Highlanders during the mid-season window but he couldn’t go without proper bargains.
“I am loving everything at WhaWha. I am being given the freedom to express myself and I am very happy,” he said.
“My dream is to play well in Zimbabwe first then get to be noticed and move to Europe. It’s a dream but, of course, I have to play well first.
“I am doing fine but I feel I should do more.”
Another underrated but outstanding 19-year-old on the local scene is Blessed Dzingai who plays anchor for Triangle.
He was a virtual unknown until the Lowveld side went separate ways with most of their players from last year.
He was given the nod to play by coach Jairos Tapera who has described him as one of the best youngsters he has ever worked with.
“We count on him in all our games. The way he reads the game and positions himself in the game is something that stands out. He is a good interceptor of the ball and he also wants to venture forward,” said Tapera.
Dzingai has provided three assists in 19 games.
And there is a 17-year-old Yadah left-back Tanaka Gahadzikwa who has played every minute the Genesis Mangombe-coached team has participated.
After losing Bright Chayambuka to ZPC Kariba, Mangombe called for trials and he picked this lanky boy from Chitungwiza.
And what a revelation he has been for the Prophetic Healing and Deliverance Ministries side. He is as good a defender as he is offensively. His pin-point crosses have resulted in Yadah’s 11 goals.
He has provided eight direct assists from his left boot. Mangombe believes Gahadzikwa can go far if he keeps a cool head.
“That one is a raw diamond. He is one of the best teenagers I have ever worked with. He is one of the main reasons we are performing well. He plays well with and without the ball,” said Mangombe.
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