Munya Mbanje lights up Leeds

volleyed an unstoppable shot from about 35 yards.
It was a goal that oozed all the qualities, talent, imagination and sublime skills of a would-be great football player.
That goal alone sent the whole of Leeds United Football Club Academy into nostalgia, rekindling memories of the once great Leeds United when they reached the semi-finals of the Uefa Champions League.
Everybody started talking about one of the greatest goals ever at Elland Road when Leeds played against Liverpool in the ’90s when Ghanaian striker Tony Yeboah blasted a volley from about 35 yards out.
It’s a goal that was being compared by all the mesmerised Leeds United members who saw that goal a reminder of the true silky skills of Munyaradzi Mbanje, a Zimbabwean youth aged 15 who was having his first trial game against Middlesborough Under-16. Leeds United were trailing by a single goal before half-time and they were outplayed during the first 45 minutes and everything looked gloomy until the emergence of Munya as a second half substitute.
His first touch was superb, oozing so much confidence. In less than five minutes the game started to shift from Middlesborough, their midfield was on the retreat as the new Joel “Jubilee” Shambo or Jay Jay Okocha showed some incisive passing and deft touches.
Inside 10 minutes, a cleared ball from Middlesborough’s own half found its way into Munya’s path and he just blasted a volley with so much power and accuracy that almost everyone watching the game applauded in approval.
Suddenly, I had people around me and Munya’s dad asking about all his abilities. They were shocked as to how a young player like him could strike such goal.
One coach told me that even in training with the senior team, he has hardly seen anything like that.
I coolly reminded them that such goals are the hallmark of all great footballers – Zinedine Zidane’s goal at Old Trafford, Pele’s volley from nearly the half way line in the World Cup.
After that goal there was a total shift of power in midfield, Munya became the excellence of execution in every delivery of the attacks that Leeds United initiated as they scored two more goals.
He was the provider and artist of the game – deft touch, back heel, diagonal passes, mazy runs, subtracting opponents and that intelligent controlling of the midfield.
He showed a high level of technique and football understanding that is beyond his age.
When the final whistle went off, Leeds United were still leading by 4 goals to 3, it was a game to remember for a very long time because what the English game is missing, Munya had the answers – a Joel “Jubilee” Shambo artistic workmanship with sublime skills. Munya has given Zimbabwean football a massive lift at Leeds United.
They asked about how we could train a young footballer to that extend, as I reminisced about the past – Chibuku and then Black Aces and a few people came to my mind.
The late Charles “Dissa” Mandizvidza, Billardo, Eckie Madzivanzira, Shadreck “Waga Waga” Dzvairo, Francis “Gazza” Jayman, Webster “Sekuru” Lozenjani, Thomas “Monke” Muchanyareyi and many others who served this great club.
I would like to personally salute my former coach, the late “Dissa” and Eckie Madzivanzira for the sterling work that they did for Black Aces.
Words alone cannot show my great admiration of what these simple guys from the ghetto of Highfield have done. I say this with so much pride, Eckie, you are a great coach, never mind people have never raised your credentials to the highest level.
Your products at Aces Academy are a subject of great interest here in Europe. I was asked about Knowledge Musona and Khama Billiat.
They say talk is cheap, Eckie, your great work and all the wisdom that you got from the legendary “Dissa” is a marvel to watch.
I hope that one day that Zifa will realise that they don’t need foreign coaches but they have a local expert called Eckie Madzivanzira who resides in Canaan near Beira Corridor, KuMahobi. When Munya told me that he was trained by Eckie, I was humbled, totally humbled because I was an apprentice as well from Eckie’s brother, Bobie.
Long Live Aces, Munyaradzi Mbanje is a new shining star in the making.
l Phillip Zulu is a Zimbabwean soccer coach who is currently working as a scout in England where he is also grooming a number of young Zimbabwean players who are staying there.