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PREMIERSHIP board member, competitions and Chicken Inn secretary Tavengwa Hara has challenged players not to make hasty decisions at the expense of development of their careers.The administrator was speaking at the awards ceremony of Zifa Bulawayo Province Division Two Soccer League side Zim Leopards on Friday night.
Hara, guest of honour at the ceremony, urged players to commit in nurturing their talent in lower divisions.
“You must not expect to get paid at this stage, but concentrate on developing your career so that you can reach greater heights. At Chicken Inn we only provide food for our young boys and I am telling you this so that you know that you are in an amateur league where you have to commit yourself so that you accomplish your dreams,” said Hara.
He congratulated Zim Leopards for their development policy, as they have an average age of 18.
“This stage is to develop and enhance talent. It’s good what you guys are doing. Teams should not fight for promotion at this stage but to develop talent so that when you eventually break into bigger leagues, you have quality players at your disposal.
“You have to introduce the juniors, so that you can start right at the grassroots, doing battles from under-14, not only in Division Two,” said Hara.
Zim Leopards chairman Ngonidzashe Shumba said they had a good season considering that they were competing against well-financed clubs.
“The boys played very well throughout the season with the little resources we had and we finished in a respectable fourth position,” Shumba said.
They finished behind champions Portland Cement who are on their way to the Zifa Southern Region Division One Soccer League with first runners-up Old Nic Mine and Magwegwe Pirates.
The player of the year award went to Ashmore Ncube with Michael Ndlovu taking the most consistent player accolade.
Xolani Ndlovu was named as the most promising player and Benboy Chinyanga got most disciplined player accolade.
The awards were bankrolled by LG Foods, Food4Less and Astra Building. How Mine chairman Mlondolozi Nkomo, Chicken Inn FC boss Lifa Ncube and his club’s committee member Mlungisi Moyo, Astra Building director Jabulani Nkomo, former Highlanders manager Amin Soma-Phiri, Food4Less official Trust Kwembeya and Bantu Rovers director Methembe Ndlovu are some of the prominent football faces that attended the Zim Leopards ceremony.
Online Reporter