Sundaymail Editor
Online Reporter
SEBASTIEN Summerfield is a rare breed.
He was born and raised in Newlands, one of Harare’s affluent suburbs.
He attended Harare International School, one of the most expensive secondary schools in the country.
Yet his affinity for the ghetto is surprising.
Football has brought Summerfield closer to the ghetto, and the former Zimbabwe national Under-20 midfielder has developed a new passion to uplift young footballers in Harare’s high-density suburbs.
The 21-year-old midfielder is still trying to establish himself in Europe, having featured for Swiss second-tier side FC Kilchberg last year, but he feels he has a duty to create opportunities “for the disadvantaged boys in the ghetto”.
He hosted a football tournament in Dzivarasekwa in January and is a regular guest at junior tournaments that are held in Mbare and other high-density suburbs.
A fortnight ago, he was in Mabvuku, where he watched the challenge match between MAJESA Academy’s Under-19 side and a select team from Mabvuku.
“I was born here, I was raised here and I played football with a lot of boys from the high-density areas.
“I have played in Mbare, Mabvuku, Mufakose and Dzivarasekwa, and have seen the talent they have there.
“These boys, unfortunately, do not have the best facilities, but still they are better than most of us who come from better backgrounds,” argues Summerfield.
For him, football is a sport that can bring together people of different classes, societies and races.
He was part of the national Under-20 team that participated in the 2020 COSAFA tournament held in South Africa.
KV Mechelen star winger Bill Antonio, the FC Platinum duo of Panashe Mutimbanyoka and Kelvin Mangiza, Munashe Pini (Chicken Inn) and Munashe Garan’anga (Sheriff Tiraspol) were also part of that squad.
Goalkeepers,Raphael Pitisi (Highlanders) and Mattriples Muleya (Bulawayo Chiefs) also featured in that tournament.
And Summerfield feels Zimbabwe should build a base from that squad and start preparing for the 2026 World Cup despite the current ban by FIFA.
“We have got this golden generation that’s brewing. Most of the players who played at the COSAFA Under-20 in 2020 are now playing professional football.
“The likes of Bill Antonio, Munashe Garan’anga, Tino Muringai; a lot of us that are now playing professional football have matured.
“Then you have the likes of Marvelous Nakamba, Marshall Munetsi and Tino Kadewere, all of these guys are our elders who can guide us and make sure we do well as Zimbabwe,” he says.
“We need to harness talent from the ghetto. We have 16-year-old boys in the high-density suburbs like Mbare, Mufakose, Mabvuku and Dzivaresekwa who need exposure.”
He believes Zimbabwe can qualify for a maiden World Cup “if everything is sorted out properly”.
“If you look at the players that have been pushed out there in Europe and excelled, they are mostly from the high-density suburbs.
“I have been around the world on trials.
“I have been to Belgium, the Czech Republic and Turkey. I have played against some English teams like Sunderland and I can tell you our boys are better than them.
“Our boys who are in the ghettos are better than most players in Europe in terms of real talent.
“We can easily beat these Europeans without a problem, but it’s just the exposure that is lacking on the part of our boys.
“Without exposure, these guys are nothing, and that is why I am pushing through my own means to create opportunities for the ghetto boys,” added Summerfield.
Online Reporter