Andrew
Sports Editor
In a rare move that could potentially be a game-changer in junior football development, a leading local academy — Legends Football Academy — have been invited to a training and assessment tour at Sporting Club of Lisbon, Portugal, next month.
Rarely do local academies get to be invited by top European schools of excellence.
Gerald Sibanda’s Real Betis project in Harare is one such unique set-up.
And Legends, who have evolved into one of the country’s leading academies in their short history, will get an opportunity to sample the environment of a professional institution.
The tour is scheduled for September 25 to September 30.
Legends director and coach Farai Dhliwayo is ecstatic about the opportunity to expose some of Zimbabwe’s young talent to a “dream environment that every player wants to be in’’.
“This is a great opportunity for our young players to gain exposure and broaden their horizons,” he said.
“Football is a vocational skill and this type of experience is invaluable.
“These young players will be our future national team players and we must make sure we are developing a better standard of player for the country.”
In his invitation letter, Sporting Club of Lisbon Academy director Paulo Gomes asked for a team of Under-17 players.
“The invitation extends to 17 players and three coaches.
“The players are to be 17 and under, with boys born between January 1, 2005 and December 31, 2007,” wrote Gomes.
“Sporting Clube de Portugal (Sporting Lisbon) is one of the biggest football clubs in Portugal and we have developed world-class players such as Luis Figo, Bruno Fernandes and Cristiano Ronaldo.
“During the training camp, the players will have access to our coaches and methods, and the goal is to improve the players’ abilities.
“We look forward to your participation in this camp.”
The Zimbabwean contingent, Gomes said, would be “housed at the newly completed Cristiano Ronaldo Academy in Alcochete, Portugal.”
Legends Academy is presently fundraising for the tour.
“As an academy, we have achieved more than what we expected in a short period. In order to continue to grow and improve our standards, we will require financial support from the corporate world as well as football lovers from the Diaspora who believe in young football potential and the transformational power of football,’’ Dhliwayo said.
A strong advocate of junior football development, Dhliwayo believes the opportunity presented by Sporting Lisbon could potentially change lives of players who make the tour.
Local football also stands to benefit.
“We kindly request corporates and well-wishers to contact us and make donations to ensure the development of these deserving young players.”
Legends were established in 2015 and have become a formidable school of excellence that has nurtured players such as Young Warriors’ Sebastian Summerfield (20), who is plying his trade with FC Kilchberg in Switzerland.
They also count Ralph Mangondoza (22), who is playing for Tyler College in the United States; Douglas Mapfumo (22), who was signed by Cape Town City in South Africa, as part of their products.
Further, 21-year-old Calum English-Brown (21), who has set the Premiership Soccer League alight despite playing for strugglers WhaWha, including Dibbellar Mapuwa (21) and teenage prodigy Washington Mapuwa (17), also trace their roots to Legends Academy.
They also had 22-year-old towering defender Tashinga Pfende and attacking midfielder Farai Dzingai (21) snapped up by Premiership debutants Tenax.
A host of other players have also been loaned to some Division One clubs to test their mettle in competitive environments.
It is widely believed ZIFA would welcome the tour.
Online Reporter