Mhlauri son making waves in US

Harare Bureau
IT’S  turning out to be a father and son affair in the United States football scene with former Warriors and CAPS United coach Charles Mhlauri recently seeing his son — Charlton — graduating from academy football to sign up for North Eastern University in Boston.Charles Mhlauri made waves on the domestic football front when leading CAPS United to back-to-back league titles in 2004 and 2005 before he also became the second national coach to guide the Warriors to the African Cup of Nations.

In that golden era with CAPS United, the former Amazulu and Masvingo United mentor also won several knockout tournament, including the Buddie Challenge Cup, before he decided to switch to the United States at the end of his Warriors stint.

Charles, who at one stage appeared to be on the verge of returning to the Warriors fold in 2011, is now director of coaching at Lightning Soccer Club in Vermont in the United States.

While he may have made a mark as a coach, Charles has been watching with satisfaction as his eldest son Charlton, who played for the CAPS United juniors and Pamushana High School, makes waves as a player alongside fellow Zimbabwean and former Young Warriors forward Ackim Mpofu.

Mhlauri, speaking from his base in the United  States yesterday, reckoned that the development of the Young Warriors pair into University soccer in that country not only put them in good stead to graduate into the Major Soccer League but was set to benefit their country.

“This puts them on a good pathway to playing in the MLS. This is a great opportunity for the youngsters to play on a good team and attend one of the best universities in the USA.

“They will not only graduate as footballers  but will come out as professionals with a degree. They will gain relevant tools to use in life during and after their playing careers I have always wanted to see these youngsters graduate from university and not be footballers only, so here they can achieve both,’’ Charles said.

Charles also gave an insight into how Mpofu and Charlton ended up securing places at North Eastern University and also spoke of how high he rates the level of the game at the Boson institution.

“Charlton played four years of Academy and Akim two years (he came two years later) the only requirement is that they have to pass their high school so they can be eligible to play at University since they have to satisfy the admissions requirement.

“It is a different format but to simplify it they will have to do four years on the university team before they can be considered for recruitment by MLS teams.
“I would put Northeastern University soccer team division at a level between D1 and Premier. But if I compare the professionalism and infrastructure then there is no room for comparison. We talking here of a team with a state of art training facilities and utilising modern methods of coaching,’’ Charles said.

Asked what this meant for him as a coach and how he rated his son’s prospects, Charles revealed that he would insist that the young boys give as much attention to their academic studies as they would to their   game.

“I am happy to see him turn the corner and play on a bigger stage.  I have always wanted my children to graduate from school and go to college/university.  At least, now, I have a peace of mind that he can write his name down on paper. He has potential to play at the next level but for now I want him concentrate on his studies as he develops as a player, my only requirement is the same, like my mother taught me, he must graduate from university.

“I grew up in a difficult environment where my parents were huge advocates for education and I had to keep my soccer business a secret. I am glad that helped me be where I am today. God bless them’’.

But what are the prospects of such players like Charlton and Ackim retuning to play for their motherland?
“They have good chances, remember Methembe Ndlovu captained the Under-23 whilst playing for Dartmouth University men’s team if my memory is right? I know the economic and distance situation makes it difficult for coaches to come and asses their progress. The US Under 20/23 teams are predominantly university team players and most are recruited on graduation to play in the MLS and some go to play in Europe’’.

Charles who still has a passion for CAPS United and the Warriors also revealed that he had been closely following their progress at the African Nations Championships in South Africa.

“I was very impressed with what Gorowa and his team achieved.  They went and fought a good fight, they made us all proud all we can say is ‘Well done and thank you.’”
He also leapt to Gorowa’s defence and felt that such coaches like Gibson Homela ought to have directed their criticism to the national coach in a closed door indaba before going public through the media.

“I respect Gibson Homela, he is a very experienced coach and one of our greatest players. It will be difficult to respond to this without talking to Homela as I don’t have all the information here as to what actually transpired resulting in what he is allegedly to have said.

“There is danger of saying something out of context. I am going to talk in general terms and say as far as I am concerned the team did very well and we need to celebrate that achievement and appreciate their performance.

“The Warriors had failed in the past two attempts to proceed beyond first round and that does not mean the coaches failed on performance. Obviously in a game of football there will always be areas that need to be improved and I will defer that to the head coach and his assistants.
“Our technical team should be given all the support and assistance. All other reviews can me be made with the coach not against the coach or the team and if possible in a closed session with a technical committee if the head coach wants it that way.
“We will then need technical report from the coach with his recommendations in line with the direction he is taking. When it comes to national team there is need to control our national discourse as more often than not England, Africa and Europe have lost very good coaches due to some unfortunate public criticisms by other coaches which is then hijacked by the public in a wrong way.
“We should constructively reward performance before results. I know many believe in nothing but results but I don’t. I respect performance before results. The fact that the team went all the way to the last four is a huge achievement. Even if they had lost in the first round I would still look at performance first and results last’’.
Charles also advocated for forum where coaches could brainstorm on the various technical issues pertaining to the game.
“I don’t mind to see club coaches fighting but at national level I feel Zifa should help to create a platform for coaches to reach out to the national coach before going to press.
“This will help create a united approach to the game. I am not saying the coach must not be criticized but as coaches must be supporting each other by showing that in public.
“Our national coach should always be our point man for direction. We gave him the mandate let’s allow him to lead the nation before trying him in the court of public opinion and hang at the nearest tree behind the court,’’ Charles said.
But for now the dreadlocked coach can only marvel at the progress being made by his son and his close friend Ackim Mpofu.