Online Reporter
Langton Nyakwenda
FORMERLY with Real Betis Academy, a Harare based football nursery that has links with the Spanish La Liga side, Murape Murape is now a football tutor at Heritage School, where he has established another synergy with another club in Spain.
Thanks to Murape’s linkages, Heritage have partnered Spanish top flight side Real Oviedo and the academy is now known as Heritage Real Oviedo Football Academy Zimbabwe.
The academy is currently in Spain as guests of Real Oviedo who have promised to offer local boys a platform to break into Europe.
Among the players in Spain include highly rated 18-year-old winger-cum-striker Thapelo Don Pande who is currently training with Real Oviedo’s main academy.
Murape tips Thapelo, who is the son of black economic empowerment activist James Pande, to break into Europe.
Heritage Real Oviedo Football Academy works with players aged between seven and seventeen but according Murape, Pande was an exceptional case.
“We came with different age groups, from nine year olds right up to Under 17s.
“We recruited Pande last year, also at the recommendation of Charlie Jones, who is also our director, and we have been working with him over that period.
“We are convinced this talent is special and deserves to be seen by the Real Oviedo coaches.
“His program is different from the other boys because he is on trials for a place in the club’s main academy,” said Murape, the former Dynamos captain who won four straight league titles between 2011 and 2014.
Murape is regarded as one of the most influential players ever to wear the Dynamos shirt.
He won the 2007 Soccer Star of the Year, and the following year he was part of the Dynamos team that reached the CAF Champions League semi final.
Since his retirement from the game, Murape has been concentrating on junior football development.
He worked at Real Betis Academy Zimbabwe before starting the Heritage School project.
Murape thinks in Pande, he has unearthed a gem.
“He is a very good player and we are hoping he can make the grade here in Spain.
“We spoke to Real Oviedo coaches about this boy and they allowed us to bring him so that they can have an up close with the player.
“Pande is enjoying his training with the main academy. There are matches lined up for him, he will play three matches before we go back to Zimbabwe.
‘Real Oviedo have a scholarship program, so should he impress, he can get a scholarship to also study at the University here.
“Remember our program combines both football and education,” said Murape.
The former Dynamos assistant coach has also been charmed with the reception his boys got in Spain.
“I was also impressed with the way the boys are being introduced to real football development, not just through training but through nutrition.
“What the young players should eat in their development stage is critical.
“You cannot just eat anything if you are an athlete,” said Murape.
Heritage Real Oviedo Football Academy will be in Spain until Wednesday.
Added Murape: “The boys have been exposed to several training sesions.
“They are also being taught how to look after themselves.
“The boys are also learning the Spanish language
“In fact, our partnership is a combined football and education program, whereby we want to develop a total human being.”
