adminNgqwele Dube Sports Correspondent
AMBITIOUS Castle Lager Premier Soccer League side How Mine have snapped promising youngster Adolf Muganyi from newly-promoted Zifa Bulawayo Province Division 2 side FC LG Vultures.
The right winger impressed How Mine gaffer, Luke Masomere during trials that were held at the beginning of the year at How Mine grounds and has signed a three-year contract with the gold miners.
The nomadic gaffer said he was pleased with the teenager’s flashes of brilliance when he turned up for trials and was among the 20 plus aspirants who wanted to be part of Chikurupati, adding that Muganyi is among several youngsters they had recruited as they build for the future.
“Adolf is among several youngsters that we have recruited with the future in mind, they are young and talented hence they will be around for the long run. We have Mgcini Sibanda, Stephen Nyambavu, Leftara Ndale and Adolf among the young footballers we believe are the future of the team,” he said.
“He has a lot of potential and I believe he has a great future in football if he remains humble and is willing to learn. The fact that he has scored twice during our friendly matches shows that he has got a lot of potential because some so called star strikers go for trials but fail to find the nets during the trial period.
“The youngsters are not here just for the future, we registered them this year and if do well in training they will obviously feature in the starting line up or as substitutes,” he said.
Adolf, whose nickname is Stumbo because of his love for stalk sweets, is son to former Masvingo, AmaZulu and Railstars forward, Ackim Muganyi.
He expressed gratitude for being given the opportunity to play in the PSL and said he is ready to learn from the coach and senior players in the team.
How Mine striker Charles Sibanda, was full of praises for the youngster, whom he described as bold, has confidence and has a lot of potential.
“He is not afraid of dribbling anyone and is showing a lot of promise. However, he is still young and can obviously improve on his current performance. He should not grow big headed but instead take this as a learning curve and I believe he will come through well,” he said.
FC LG Vultures director Larrence Gwati said they were happy with Stumbo’s progression as that was a fulfillment of his club to produce stars for the future.
Gwati said the lad was in good hands under Masomere, and was confident he (Masomere) would mould him into a great footballer.
He urged Adolf, who turns 19 this year, to be level headed and not let publicity get to his head.
“I think Stumbo is the next big thing in local football but he should not let that get to his head. I have always said Division Three and Two is full of talent but PSL teams are rushing to Division One which is full of players who are about to retire. We will continue to produce stars and I believe there could be three to four youngsters who can make it in the PSL.
“Praise should also go to coach, Collen Nyambiya who nurtured the boy from Young Flying Stars and at FC LG, I think he is a good coach with youngsters as he easily relates to them,” he said.
Prior to playing for FC LG Vultures, Stumbo was at Young Flying Stars which he joined while he was doing his high school studies at Luveve High in 2012.
Online Reporter