Online Reporter
Tadious Manyepo
Zimpapers Sports Hub
WARRIORS captain Marvelous Nakamba knows he could have been lost to crime or drug and substance abuse had Bantu Rovers not given him the platform to realise his potential.
And that is the reason why the Luton Town star is always itching to see youngsters blossom.
Recently, the 31-year-old, broke the internet after a picture of him and the now Finland-based Zimbabwe international Prosper Padera emerged.
The two were shaking hands when Padera was named player of the tournament at the Marvelous Nakamba Foundation tournament.
Nakamba has been bankrolling Njube Spurs Academy for over six years and the nursery made him proud over the weekend after winning the ZIFA Bulawayo Province Under 17 league title.
“What I know for certain is if I had not been given a chance to develop at Methembe Ndlovu’s Bantu Rovers, probably I could have been lost maybe to crime or anything,” said Nakamba.
“I know a lot of footballers who came through organised academies who have told me how they almost lost their way before football rescued them.
“That’s why I value junior football development structures a lot. I am happy to always see youngsters coming through these structures and make it big.”
On Padera, he said: “It’s always my pleasure to see a player like Prosper Padera always crediting our 2022 tournament to his success story.
“And seeing Ncube Spurs succeed in the Junior League means they have good potential. These are the stars of tomorrow, the future Warriors. Not only them but those they are competing with as well. Kudos to the organisers of these Junior Leagues. This is the way to go.”
Njube Spurs have different age-group teams including a Second Division side which is currently second on the log and just three points below the pacesetters.
Nakamba said his aim was to see several players emerging from Zimbabwe and make it into Europe’s elite leagues.
“Yeah, there is this drug abuse menace which is rampant amongst the youth. We need to use football and anything else to fight that off.
“Ultimately we also want to see more players making it big in European leagues. I am happy to see that I share the same vision with the likes of Scottland owner Pedzi’s “Scott” Sakupwanya who has gone out of his way trying to professionalise how youth football should be structured,” added Nakamba.
“Where I can, I will always support that for that’s how I also came into be the Marvelous Nakamba you see today.”
