Online Reporter
Tadious Manyepo in BEIJING, China
LEGENDARY Warriors captain Peter Ndlovu knows just how meticulous attention at grassroots level can unlock potential in youngsters.
Regarded as the best ever footballer to emerge in this country, Ndlovu was a beneficiary of proper junior football development, first at Mzilikazi High School in Bulawayo then at Highlanders Juniors.
Blessed with both speed and skill, Ndlovu got to be nurtured by professionals and in his early teens, he was already flying, dominating junior football across the country.
He won the Soccer Star of the Year accolade twice in consecutive years (1990 and 1991) before English Premier League teams fell over each other for his signature.
Coventry City subsequently took him on board and he spent almost the rest of his career in England while also starring for the national team where he led the country to their maiden Africa Cup of Nations appearance in 2004.
And he doesn’t mince his words when talking about junior development.
Now based in South Africa, Ndlovu has given his compliments to Zimbabwe’s junior football standard-bearers Jadel Football Academy.
The latter is a unique set-up, formed in China by fellow former player Walter “Ringers” Musanhu, and cutting across several nations for different age-groups.
The Zimbabwe subsidiary has been expanding since its establishment in 2019 to include teams in Bulawayo, Mutare and Beitbridge.
Sixteen youngsters from Zimbabwe are in China where they have been fused with their counterparts from the expansive country and other nations for one of the biggest youth football festivals in the world, the 100-Team Cup.
The tournament kicks-off today in Beijing with four different age-groups.
And in rallying the youngsters, Ndlovu said “Jadel Football Academy, I know you are capable. Go out there, play well, shine and raise the country’s flag high.
“Do well in the 100-Team Cup. We are all behind you, all the best.”
JFA shocked the world last year when they shoved aside every challenge in their way to win the 100-Team Cup.
It was a moment of pride for Zimbabwean citizens here and they celebrated it with embassy staff.
The 100-Team Cup is now in its 42nd year and is a very popular event in the Chinese sporting calendar.
With its popularity spreading, more than 1365 clubs are gracing the competition this year from across the world.
Musanhu has always said the youngsters he has assembled at JFA and giving such huge exposure in international tournaments like the 100-Team Cup should be kept together and play a huge role in Zimbabwe’s 2034 World Cup aspirations.
Going into the 100-Team Cup, JFA have a spring in their step after they won the Thaiwoo Cup in Hebei last week.
