Online Reporter
Tadious Manyepo
Zimpapers Sports Hub
JADEL Football Academy will, for the fourth year running, look to fly the country’s flag when they participate in the annual 100 Team Cup in Beijing, China, this month.
The globally-acclaimed football nursery has taken part in this jamboree, which draws more than 100 teams from across the globe, for the past four years. They have brought medals of different colours in each of those editions.
Jadel FA players are expected to jet out tonight via the United Arab Emirates, having a three-hour layoff in Dubai and scheduled to arrive in the Chinese capital 24 hour later. They will have a day to rest before the fiesta burst into life, running until August 28 at different venues dotted across Beijing.
Academy founder and director Walter “Ringers” Musanhu said the Under-11, Under-12 and Under-13 players are geared to do well in the 100 Team Cup.
Musanhu, a former professional footballer with Motor Action and the Young Warriors founded the club in China, where he is based, and subsequently established an arm back home in 2019.
The Zimbabwean youngsters will team up with those based at Jadel FA China in what will be a mixture of not only football but of different cultural backgrounds.
“I am happy to announce that we will be taking off to China for the 100 Teams Cup this Monday (today) in the evening,” said Musanhu.
“Jadel Football Academy Zimbabwean side will be participating at the annual global showcase for the fourth time on the bounce.
“I derive a lot of pleasure seeing these kids doing what they love the most that is playing football and getting international exposure at a young age.
“These youngsters have also been exceptional when it comes to the competition proper.
“In three years they have managed to bring home gold, silver and bronze. That’s the hallmark of their competitiveness. We are trying to nurture them, moving in line with our vision of seeing Zimbabwe qualifying for the World Cup in 2034.”
Jadel FA shelved their Send-Off and Fundraising Dinner that was pencilled for Harare last Friday and Musanhu said the academy still needs partners to make the journey memorable.
“We are grateful to all those who have come through and we are still open to partnerships so that we can help out our kids during this trip,” added Musanhu. “We had to postpone our scheduled Fundraiser last week due to circumstances beyond our control. “But we have confidence in individuals and the corporate world that they will come on board to help us out as we take the kids to represent the badge in China.”
