adminCommunity clubs such as Highlanders, Dynamos and Zimbabwe Saints were powerhouses in local football and every youngster envied to don their jerseys.
The late Mercedes “Rambo” Sibanda, Willard “Nduna” Khumalo, the late Benjamin Nkonjera, the Ndlovu brothers Madinda, Adam and Peter, Methembe Ndlovu and Makheyi Nyathi (deceased) are some of Highlanders’ products of a vibrant junior policy.
Chikwata produced among others Joseph Machingura, Hwange assistant coach Nation Dube, Ephraim “The Rock of Gibraltar” Chawanda, Butholezwe Mahachi, the late Rueben Chandata, Richard Choruma and Mthulisi Maphosa.
The late Blessing Makunike, Gift Mudangwe, Cheche Billiat, Edelbert Dinha, Basil Chisopo and Silver Chigwenje are some of the players that came through Caps United’s junior ranks.
Another source of good players were mining towns that had good sporting facilities.
Talk of Rio Tinto, Lancashire Steel of Kwekwe, Wankie now known as Hwange and Mhangura, all these had brilliant players as they used mine sporting facilities to develop their skills.
Some of the notable players to come out of mines include Fabian Zulu of Hwange who is now based in Botswana, ex-Lancashire Steel’s trio of Luke Petros-Jukulile, Tafadzwa Dube and Washington Arubi and the late Highlanders goalkeeper Amon Chimbalanga who was signed from Redwing Mine.
In the past seasons, clubs have failed to produce players that go on to make a name for themselves locally or internationally. The country has also seen the mushrooming of soccer academies.
Some of these academies have nothing on the ground to show that the owners of these institutions are doing something to develop talent.
These people seem not to have a better appreciation of what an academy is, it goes beyond football training as the players are supposed to be taught many other things and sent to schools to pursue academic education.
The junior coaches are seen loading players between the ages of nine to 15 with heavy tactical drills, which eventually have a negative impact on the development of a player.
Some of the academies have even failed to last as they struggle to get financial backing to sustain their projects.
Driven by the love for the world’s beautiful game, former Zimbabwe Saints and national team legendary striker Agent “Agila” Sawu has formed a football academy that he believes caters for all races.
Rising Stars Football Academy conducts its training sessions on Fridays and Saturdays at Milton Junior Primary School and it is registered as a trust in a move meant to lure corporate support.
Sawu is funding the project from his own pocket and is confident that once stakeholders see that there is accountability and the academy is doing a sterling job, they will come on board.
He says the objective of the club is simple, “To give youngsters a platform to nurture and showcase their skills.”
“I feel that football in Zimbabwe lacks sponsorship because of a stereotype that there is no transparency in soccer. What Rising Stars Football Academy seeks to do is to try and instill that confidence and culture of giving to the corporate world.
“Sport brings people together and as such we have a multi-racial academy with kids from privileged and less-privileged backgrounds,” Sawu said.
Rising Stars Academy has 25 players aged between five and 15 years.
Sawu said they also encourage their players to strike a balance between education and sport.
“Education is key to success and we realise that even football can be a big employer so we encourage youngsters to strike a balance between the two. Some are intellectually gifted others excel in sport. There others who are good in both.
“As Rising Stars Academy we are committed to assisting the less privileged to achieve their dreams,” Sawu said.
He said he had approached the business community to assist his project financially.
Sawu said he gets help in coaching the players from retired footballers and coaches like Nkosana Gumbo.
Online Reporter