Tongai Mashonga [email protected]
The Benfica way is coming to Zimbabwe.
Portuguese giants Sport Lisboa e Benfica (SLB), once voted the best youth academy in the world, have fallen in love with Hardrock’s Kwekwe project, describing it as one of the most impressive they have ever seen in Africa.
The verdict was delivered at Chahwanda Stadium yesterday by a high-powered delegation led by International Technical Co-ordinator of Benfica Davide Gomes and Miguel Reis, International Co-ordinator of
Benfica’s International Project, on a return visit after Hardrock’s benchmarking tour to Lisbon recently.
And the Portuguese gave Hardrock the green light, “We can start tomorrow.”
“In terms of standards, they are very high, certainly different from ours. But we will begin our work here once the academy is ready. It is going to be a state-of-the-art facility for developing young players,” said Gomes.
“We can start very soon here because we can do much with less but of cause if we have the academy ready we can even do better work. The standards are high, we can start working tomorrow,” he said.
Reis, who has worked across the continent and is on his first visit to Zimbabwe, said he was stunned.
“First of all I was very impressed, it is my first time in Zimbabwe, to see such top level conditions to practice the sport. I am very impressed with the project of Hardrock since its creation. It is a young club that has done a lot for football, not only for Zimbabwe but also to project Africa as a future football powerhouse,” said Reis.
“This was one of the most impressive projects I have ever seen being established in such a short term, what we see here, the stadium, the facilities, the training facilities, the upcoming academy, for us, is going to be a huge pride to work with Hardrock and to have a youth development programme with a co-operation with Benfica.”
Reis said the partnership will produce heroes for both club and country.
“We are always on the lookout for athletes. We are firm believers that where there is people there is talent. These kids that will be the heroes of the club will also be the heroes of Zimbabwe because they will perform in the national team and put Zimbabwe where it deserves. It is a country that breeds football and has a passion for football.”
Hardrock board member Charles Chahwanda revealed that the hardest part had been done — land has been secured for the School of Excellence.
“The most difficult thing these days is acquisition of land. It’s very difficult to get land, particularly in peri-urban or urban areas. We have gone through that hurdle. The land is already there. We have already done some homework,” he said.
Chahwanda said construction will shift from the B Arena to the academy site next month.
“The B Arena has got some facilities that are not in the main arena. Maybe there were omissions here or because of space we couldn’t accommodate them. We don’t have the gym at the main arena here. We are pushing very hard that by the end of December everything will be done here. The majority of the people who are working here are the very same people we have contracted for the academy. So they are just shifting from here to the academy.”
On timelines, Hardrock is targeting eight months for a visible facility.
“If we don’t encounter any disturbances beyond our control like bad weather and availability of materials, after eight months something very visible and maybe usable will be there for everyone to see. Some of the materials that we are going to be using might be imported hence the availability of materials could affect progress,” said Chahwanda.
Hardrock Chairman Wellington Mpandare said they chose Benfica because it is the world benchmark for youth development and identity creation.
“Benfica is regarded as one of the best teams in the world in terms of organisational structures for youth development. So when we got wind of that information we thought it was wise for us to tour Benfica,” he said.
“Our idea is to make sure that we nurture young players, introduce them into our culture of football at an early age from 13 years so that we create a visible identity in terms of playing style, behaviour wise and everything. Soccer is not about the skill only. But it also resonates with the kind of discipline that we instil into the player.”
He said the set-up whereby kids train and go home to eat sadza without monitoring cannot produce top players in a data-driven era.
“What pays more these days is data. Data analysis. Clubs now look at data so you need that; to have players from Under-13 up to 19 in camp, in school so that they understand what we want to achieve. After school they go for training sessions. They will be staying there. It will be like a boarding school. Proper, proper setup. I don’t think in Southern Africa there’s anything like that. You only see those kind of academies maybe in Morocco, Egypt and maybe Europe.”
Crucially, Benfica normally demands a Government guarantee to build a School of Excellence. Hardrock told them they will do it privately.
The two sides are now finalising a comprehensive MOU covering technical expertise, management of players, data analysis, safeguarding and manpower exchange.
The academy ill be the first full European boarding model in Southern Africa.
