Masara magic: Burnley’s Zim prodigy earns his stripes

Zimpapers Sports Hub

AT just 17, Vernon Masara is living the dream and rewriting the script for Zimbabwean footballers abroad.

After a stunning breakthrough season at Burnley, the UK-born forward has not only earned his first professional contract but has also been retained by the Premier League club going into the next campaign.

Masara’s rise has been nothing short of meteoric.

From missing the early part of the 2023/24 season due to injury to being crowned Burnley’s Academy Player of the Year, the teenager has announced himself as one of the brightest young talents at Turf Moor. And the Clarets have taken note, he is one of only three Under-18 players retained by the club for the next season.

Born to Zimbabwean parents in the UK, Masara carries his roots with pride, and those roots may soon shape the future of Zimbabwean football.

Despite being just 16 for much of the season, Masara was fast-tracked to Burnley’s Under-21 side by coach Andy Farrell. He didn’t just fit in, he flourished. With 21 goals in 26 appearances across youth competitions, his predatory instincts, pace, and maturity on the ball stood out in every match.

His efforts were duly recognised when he was awarded Burnley’s Academy Player of the Season, a prestigious nod that signals the club’s belief in his long-term potential. Yet, despite his soaring stock, Masara is still waiting for his senior team debut.

But Turf Moor isn’t the only place where his name is buzzing.

Zimbabwe Warriors coach Michael Nees, who recently travelled to Europe as part of Zifa’s diaspora talent scouting mission, has identified Masara as a key target in his plans for the national team. The aim? To build a stronger, more dynamic Warriors squad ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) finals set for December in Morocco.

Masara joins an elite crop of UK-based Zimbabwean teens who are now firmly on Nees’ radar. The likes of Trey Nyoni (Liverpool), Leon Chiwome (Wolves), and Shumaira Mheuka (Chelsea) are all part of the same exciting conversation.

Zimbabwe’s strategy is clear: tap into the global pool of young talent with roots in the motherland, and Vernon Masara may just be the jewel in that crown.