Online Reporter
Tadious Manyepo
Zimpapers Sports Hub
ZIFA vice president Kenny Ndebele has hailed Warriors captain Marvelous Nakamba for taking football development to marginalised communities in the country.
Ndebele was the guest of honour during the second edition of the Marvelous Nakamba Foundation Under-17 tournament that took place over the weekend in Hwange.
Over 10 teams battled it out, with Hwange Academy emerging victors after their 1-0 win in the final against Binga Academy. Several youngsters were scouted, with Nakamba, who couldn’t be at the venue as he was in camp with the Warriors, revealing he will be sending about three of them to different Belgian academies. The first tournament under the Marvelous Nakamba Foundation banner was held in 2022 at the White City Stadium in Bulawayo with eight teams taking part.
The player of the tournament from that contest, Prosper Padera was picked for further development in Europe and has since made the cut into the Warriors side that leaves for the Africa Cup of Nations finals in Morocco today.
Ndebele believes taking development tournaments to every corner of the country will help in unearthing hidden gems that could help the national game.
He was mostly blown away by how Binga Academy fared against high-profile nurseries, including Highlanders, Biya Academy and Victoria Falls.
“Yes, looking at what we witnessed in this tournament, I am convinced that a lot of raw talent could be going to waste due to lack of exposure.
“There is a need to make an effort to ensure that every corner of this country gets tournaments like this. Let me take this opportunity to comment on Marvelous Nakamba for putting together a massive tournament like this,” said Ndebele.
“Look, Nakamba is in camp with the Warriors, and he couldn’t be here, but he didn’t let that disrupt the tournament.
“While he is working hard to help the Warriors, he is also working hard to make sure the next Warriors generation is getting a good platform to develop and fine-tune themselves.
“It’s an initiative that we don’t take for granted at ZIFA. We wish to see more tournaments like these happening across the country. You saw how the kids from Binga were competing. They are talented, yet it’s very rare to see them play in national tournaments. Let’s try by all means to involve all these marginalised kids, and I am sure that will enrich our football philosophy.” Nakamba’s father, Antony, a former Hwange goalkeeper, said, “Our intention is to give every child a chance to take a crack at football.
For Nakamba to be where he is, someone decided to give him a platform to show his potential that was then polished further.
“This is what the Marvelous Nakamba Foundation is trying to do. Nakamba himself derives a lot of joy by seeing youngsters enjoying themselves in the field of play.”
Marvelous Nakamba said, “I am certainly happy to have put together that tournament. Like I have always said, maybe I couldn’t have been where I am if others didn’t help me discover my football calling.
“Probably I could have been wasted, you know when you are a kid and you fail to find a purpose. My heart just wants to see these youngsters getting started.”
The tournament was graced by Warriors legend Agent Sawu along with different former and current players, including Highlanders captain and goalkeeper Ariel Sibanda, Hwange’s Dominic Chungwa, Nqobizitha Masuku and Godfrey Makaruse among others.
