adminEllina Mhlanga Sports Reporter
THE development of athletes from an early age has proved to be the way to go for any nation if they are to make it in any sport and platforms have been created to support this idea, including setting up of academies and high performance centres.
Terrence Masiya, a sport enthusiast, has also come on board to form an academy in Budiriro.
Masiya said they are partnering a school still to be identified from the high-density suburb to set up the academy that will cater for several sporting disciplines.
“We are targeting to partner with a school where we shall establish sporting facilities. We shall be offering athletics, soccer, netball, volleyball, rugby, basketball and tennis for both boys and girls.
‘’We shall provide sport facilities for the disadvantaged,” said Masiya.
Masiya said work is already underway to source the needed equipment to set up the structure and they are targeting over 300 athletes between the ages of 12 and 20.
“We have started already, we are looking for sponsors, which we already have from mostly sportspersons who are now based outside the country.
‘’We also have friends from Germany who are bringing in state-of-the-art equipment.
“Our major objectives are to create a sports hub, which will be used as a scouting ground by local and international scouts. We would also like to create a livelihood through sport for the athletes.
“We have been blessed in that those Zimbabweans outside the country are bringing in expert knowledge they have gained over the years and they know the challenges which affect most academies. We are targeting 350 athletes for the first intake. The academy shall be fully functional by the end of July this year,” said Masiya.
Online Reporter