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Langton Nyakwenda
Sports Reporter
THE Harare Province Junior Development League, one of the pioneering youth football competitions in the country, has a crucial role to play in laying the foundation for future national youth teams, a top ZIFA official has said.
ZIFA technical director, Jethro “Chemi” Hunidzarira, watched an Under-16 tournament held at the famous Zimbabwe Grounds in Highfield last weekend and was left convinced the country’s football future is not bleak.
Lions Academy, which is based at Prince Edward School, were the winner of the tournament that drew 28 teams from Harare and Chitungwiza.
Power Academy and Excell Academy were second and third respectively.
“This (junior football tournament) is very important and I am even touched to see the coaches who are here, the former players who are here, this is what we want, and this is the only way we can build a proper national team,” said Hunidzarira.
Zimbabwe are set to participate in regional and international youth tournaments in September.
And Hunidzarira believes well-organised local junior tournaments can lay a solid foundation for national team selection.
“This is where we should start, the foundation must be laid nicely so that we avoid all these age-cheating issues and create an opportunity for every child.
“We now need to have these kinds for competitions throughout the country, right from the area zones.
“We are having international tournaments soon, and there should be enough time to do the selection in the manner that we want,” added Hunidzarira.
The ZIFA technical director has been on a whirlwind tour across the country, assessing junior football structures, and he is worried about the lack of development in rural areas.
“Unfortunately, rural areas are very far behind, especially when you look at their facilities,” Hunidzarira said.
“So, we deliberately want to go out there, try and pick them up, and also give them real opportunities,” he said.
Zimbabwe Junior Football development chairman, Lloyd “MaBlanyo” Chigowe, is looking beyond the tournament, as he wants grassroots coaches to undergo massive training.
“We are laying the groundwork for the Under-17 national team,” said Chigowe.
“We have selectors who are looking at all the games, they will select a provincial squad, which will then play at the inter-provincials where we will do the national selection.
“It’s an all-inclusive exercise as we will also have inter-district competitions.
“We will also have a select from the academies and then come with a proper national Under-17 side.”
Former Warriors players Edward Sadomba, Dickson Choto, and David Sengu are some of the selectors.
“There is a need for grassroots coaching to go for courses so that they improve in both talent identification and nurturing,” added Chigowe.
“There is no way you can hold tournaments and hope you will develop from that.
“We have a week in week out junior development league, we have got a league that is efficiently run, talent is developed systematically.”
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