Online Reporter
Lovemore Dube, Zimpapers Sports Hub
ZENZO Ndlovu says Coventry City still revere former Warriors captain Peter Ndlovu, more than two decades after the Zimbabwean star left the English club.
Zenzo, who was in Coventry a few months ago on a football exhibition mission linking talent from Africa and the United States, was struck by how fondly people still speak of the Bulawayo-born forward.
“Peter is celebrated big time. Everywhere you go, every time he is mentioned, the moment I introduce myself as Ndlovu I am confused for a relative of Peter Ndlovu,” said Zenzo.
Peter Ndlovu made history in 1991 when he signed for Coventry directly from Highlanders, then the League and Cup double winners. He became the first African player to establish himself in the English Premier League, opening the door for the wave of talent that followed from the continent.
During his stay in Coventry, Ndlovu left memories that still linger. His 1995 hat-trick against Liverpool remains one of the club’s most cherished moments. Inside the Coventry City Hall of Fame, his image sits proudly among the greatest to have worn the shirt. Fans fondly called him the “Bulawayo Bullet” or Nsukuzonke.
“Anything from Bulawayo will be well received in Coventry,” said Zenzo.
Based in the United States, Zenzo has spent the last 23 years running Soccer4Life, a youth programme that fuses spirituality and sport to steer teenagers away from social vices. The project has produced both positive minded young people and professional footballers who have broken into clubs abroad.
His ambition is to create more opportunities for Zimbabwean youngsters through international exposure. “Our dream is to see Zimbabweans joining our programmes and getting the necessary platform to move to big leagues in Europe,” he said.
Zenzo’s academy, formally registered as ZSports Global in 2009, has been taking young players on scouting and showcase trips. “We started taking kids to Europe, mainly Hamburg in Germany, and did so for a number of years. Last year, we registered ZSports Global to create a platform that allows me to bring kids to showcase their talents there,” he said.
In July this year, he took groups from the US, South Africa, and Coventry to trials where they were assessed by six scouts. The response has encouraged him. “They liked what I brought. Scouts liked the idea and want to collaborate,” he said.
Recently in Bulawayo, Zenzo has been running Sport4Life programmes that have drawn close to 90 coaches. The focus has been on technical training and life skills, all anchored on Christian values.
A former CMED Bulawayo player himself, Zenzo believes football can be a platform not just for careers, but for building character too.
