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Ndlovu is one of the two VW Football ambassadors for Zimbabwe together with his former Warriors teammate Edzai Kasinauyo. Two years ago they led 16 Under-13 players on the country’s maiden dance with the VW World Junior Championships in Madrid, Spain .
That group of teenagers left a mark in Spain after beating fancied Italy 2-0 to atone for back-to-back defeats by United States and Russia.
The former Warriors captain, now the national Under-23 coach will, however, double up as coach and ambassador when a new crop of the country’s emerging talent parade their skills on a grand stage.
The 2012 edition of the local VW Juniors Masters, a tournament that is used to pick the final 16 that will travel to Poland, has tentatively been set for
Rufaro on the weekend of 14-15 April.
But the squad that will be picked could not have asked for better inspiration than to have a legend like Peter directing them from the dug out in Poland.
Ndlovu said the task to lead the Under-13 side dovetailed with the grand vision that the former Coventry City, Sheffield United, Birmingham striker says he has for youth football in the country, which he hopes will culminate in Zimbabwe qualifying for the 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil .
Peter also paid tribute to VW Zimbabwe director Fred Mtanda for ensuring that the local version of the Junior Masters is staged after the Harare businessman agreed to sponsor the tournament once again.
“It’s important that we identify and catch these players while they are still very young so in this regard I want to thank VW for the support because once we have the support it is easier to do the rest.
“Now we have pupils at Churchill High School who earned themselves scholarships after playing at the tournament in Madrid and it shows that we need such kind of tournaments that give the children a foundation for talent identification and this programme is set up in such a way that we can identify and then nurture them so that they know football can be a way of life for them.
“We appreciate people like Mr Mtanda who are making it possible for the kids and I would also like to appreciate people who have given me the job but I need the help of the legends, ex players, coaches and everyone involved in junior football because the bigger role even for the Under-23s is to identify some of the talent from Under-15 that could help us qualify for the 2016 Olympics,” Ndlovu said.
“Although I will share with Zifa my vision for the Young Warriors so that the building starts now the VW is a grassroots programme so the Ministry (of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture) has to play a part and we have to respect and recognise them.
“It’s not only the VW tournament but the various schools tournaments and I will be available to help identify and nurture talent. There are no bad players. All we have to do is improve them and as a coach it is a privilege to work with the youngsters,” Ndlovu said.
Former Ajax Cape Town and Moroka Swallows midfielder Kasinauyo, who has worked tirelessly to ensure the first products of the VW Junior Masters continue with their football and academic careers at Churchill, said he was hopeful of a successful second edition early next month.
Kasinauyo also heaped praise on Zimbabwe Junior Football League chairman Zivanai “Zifa” Chiyangwa and his crew which includes seasoned coach Lloyd Chigove for working hard to ensure talent identification structures have been established throughout the country.
“The local tournament will draw players from the provinces and after that a team that will represent the country in Poland will be picked so it is the best of the
Under-13 that will travel and Peter will take charge of the squad.
“We have to be in Poland at the end of May and a draw will be conducted once we get there. Apart from the matches there will be a lot of activities lined up and there is a possibility that the youngsters could get a chance to watch one of the European championships matches.
“But before we look at Poland we have to successfully run the local edition and thanks to VW Zimbabwe and Mr Mtanda for their tremendous support, the dream for the youngsters to go to Poland is going to be realised because if they had not come on board to once again sponsor the tournament we would have been stuck.
“VW Germany only takes over when it comes to the international event.
“We also hope that other corporates will come on board and assist so that this tournament does not become a once off event.
“Since these are primary school children we will be working closely with Naph and the Zimbabwe Junior Football League. In fact Zifa Chiyangwa and his team have been doing a great job and recently they held a successful Under-14 tournament,” Kasinauyo said.
The team to Spain had a dream chance to watch La Liga and European giants Real Madrid in action at the Bernabeau and the 2012 class could have a rare opportunity of watching one of the matches of the Euro Championships, Europe’s version of the Nations Cup.
Online Reporter