Online Reporter
Tadious Manyepo in BEIJING, China
ZIMBABWE’S Ambassador to China, Abigail Shoniwa, yesterday hosted a luncheon for Jadel Football Academy players, just a day after the youngsters completed a football and cultural exchange tour of the Asian country.
It was an afternoon of complete theatre as the Zimbabwean kids were accompanied by their Chinese counterparts.
Jadel FA was the box-office attraction in two international youth football tournaments, the Thaiwoo Cup, which they won early this month and the 100-Team Cup in Beijing, where they reached the quarter-finals.
Formed by former Young Warriors player Walter “Ringers” Musanhu, Jadel FA was so distinct in both competitions with their fusion of different nationalities including 16 players from Zimbabwe.
And Shoniwa hailed the successes being posted by Jadel FA on and off the field as the development club isn’t confined to the football pitch only.
“I can’t thank Jadel Football Academy enough,Zimbabwe and China have an excellent relationship and having the likes of Jadel FA helping cement the union further is something that needs to be cheered.
“Look, this academy has several children from different countries and it is breaking barriers be it social, cultural or language.
“This is outstanding work and it needs to be acknowledged,” she said
“I have been following them since the last month when the Zimbabwe-based players arrived.
“I understand the team had time to put the players on cultural exchange programmes and got to site-visit a lot of attractions in China.
“That way, they got to know a lot about China and I am happy to be seeing them mixing and mingling flawlessly with their Chinese counterparts.”
Shoniwa added: “We had to do this luncheon for the academy just to appreciate their outstanding work.
“Let me take this time to also congratulate them for winning the Thaiwoo Cup and reaching the 100-Team Cup quarterfinals.
“I am pleased to know that last year they won the 100-Team Cup and failed to win the Thaiwoo Cup and this year they put some effort and managed to win the Thaiwoo Cup. That’s remarkable and that means in two straight years they have won both cups.
“We really need to appreciate this academy for their outstanding work.”
Musanhu said the relationship between Zimbabwe and China has created a fertile ground for him to thrive in his space.
“I feel extraordinarily humbled each time I step my feet on this embassy entrance for I always know myself, as the leader of Jadel FA and what I represent, always get the support we need in the time that we need it.
“It is for this reason why I have enjoyed every minute of Jadel FA’s existence in China.
“We are an international football development club that nurtures children from different backgrounds and nationalities with the significant number being Chinese and Zimbabweans,” said Musanhu.
“About 16 players travelled from Zimbabwe and we combined them with their Chinese colleagues for two highly-regarded tournaments over the past four weeks.
“The cordial relationship that exists between Zimbabwe and China is helping us thrive and we are playing our own small part to further strengthen it.
“Zimbabwean kids have visited China over the last three years and vice-versa for both tourism and football.”
The 16 Jadel FA players based in Zimbabwe alongside legendary coach Stanford “Stix” Mutizwa are expected back home tomorrow after exactly 36 days of the tour.
