Online Reporter
Lovemore Dube
UK isn’t the only goldmine! That’s the bold message from Farai Mangwiza, a Canada-based, Zimbabwean-born player-manager, who’s challenging Warriors head coach Michael Nees and ZIFA to expand their talent search beyond Britain.
While Nees has been busy in the UK, scouting players with Zimbabwean roots, Mangwiza says the North American pipeline is bursting with raw, untapped talent — and it’s time the Warriors started paying attention.
“I’ve seen kids here with serious potential,” said Mangwiza. “Some have trialed with top-tier sides like Toronto FC in Major League Soccer. If we don’t reach out, we’ll lose them to other nations.”
An old-school Caps United diehard and close associate of football legends like Shelton Zendanemako, Freddie Mukwesha, and Shepherd Bwanya, Mangwiza knows talent when he sees it — and he’s adamant that Zimbabwe’s next big stars might just be chilling in North America.
One rising name is Tashi Zvemhara, a 17-year-old sensation who recently signed with The Barrow, a Canadian semi-pro team, after trials with Toronto FC.
The UK Diaspora, led by Marshal Gore, has already delivered players like Tawanda Chirewa, but Mangwiza says the hunt shouldn’t stop there.
“Let’s cast the net wider — Canada, the U.S., Australia — Zimbabweans are everywhere,” he urged. “If we want a competitive Warriors squad, we need to be everywhere too.”
Time for Nees to book a ticket west? The ball’s in ZIFA’s court.
