adminCurtworth Masango
FRIENDLY Academy founding member and executive director, Sydney Matanhike, said they were looking forward to continuing tapping into rural football talent.
Last year, the academy hosted a successful football tournament, in partnership with Matengambiri Trust in Nyanga. Friendly Academy have linked more than 15 players with scholarship opportunities in the United States and locally, in high schools.
They have also produced players who are now playing for established local clubs.
Marshall Munetsi and Tinotenda Muringai are some of the players who came through the hands of the academy since its inception in 2012.
“We have partnered with The Matengambiri Family Trust, to develop and help young players in Nyanga,” said Matanhike.
“The Matengambiri Trust funds the scouting tournament costs and then helps the selected players with school fees. The aim is to help the kids, change their lives for the better by instilling a positive zeal towards education, through sport, and keeping them away from substance and drug abuse.
“There is vast football talent in Zimbabwe, mainly in rural areas, but many of them lack exposure and do not have resources to get proper talent development like those in towns.
“The other thing is that towns like Harare are congested with Academies such that there are many fights for players, unlike in rural areas where you just identify your player and develop the talent without fights for player ownership.
“Matengambiri said the lack of sponsorship for academies is a big challenge in the country.
“The major challenge we have faced so far is the fact that when we produce a player for the PSL teams, we don’t get paid anything.”
He said there were also challenges in the movement of junior players.
“The other problem is on the transfer of junior players, we always have junior players moving from one Academy to the other due to several factors, including parents, and travel costs.
“There has been no sponsorship coming through due to the economic challenges and many companies are not putting money into sport, especially for junior development.”
Online Reporter