Online Reporter
Lovemore Dube
NDODANA Masuku has challenged coaches from professional soccer clubs to intensify their talents searches and spread the nets to rural areas.
He says there is so much talent to tap. He said failure to do so often leads many talented boys to lose potential professional football playing careers and resort to social ills like poaching, drug and substance abuse.
Masuku said this in an interview on Wednesday evening following the success of Cheetahs who play in the Rhino Champions League, an Area Zone division in Hwange District who beat Division Two side Vergas to qualify for the Munhumutapa Challenge Cup.
Introduced this year, the tournament is sponsored to the tune of US$5 million and has taken the character of the previous Unity, Castle Cup and Zifa Cup (FA) in which teams from all divisions take part.
It is the biggest tournament and most lucrative with winners guaranteed of a ticket to represent Zimbabwe in CAF Confederation Cup in 2027/28.
“We have always wanted coaches from competitive leagues to come to our Hwange based Area Zone. There is so much talent to tap and we have young players who can walk into Division One and Premier Soccer League teams without a struggle.
“For Cheetahs to beat Vergas in the provincial final is testament to the talent that lies in our league and rural areas,” said Masuku.
Vergas coached by former Highlanders and Hwange goalkeeper Edmore “MaMkhwebu” Sibanda play in the Matabeleland North Division Two League and are among the favourites for promotion to Division One next season.
Cheetahs play in the Rhino League which is spearheading a campaign to save the Painted Dog and promotes anti-poaching as well in the south-east tip of the Hwange National Park.
They were founded at the instigation of traditional leader Chief Charles Nekatambe an ardent soccer fan who wanted to give youths an opportunity for wellness and an avenue for another career choice.
After a gruelling knockout run among the Area Zone teams Cheetahs found themselves facing Siyabonga in the semi-finals of the Munhumutapa Challenge Cup and they won 2-0 with Blessing Banda and Chifundi Sibelo on target setting the stage for the boys’ biggest match in their careers, a final berth against Vergas.
In the final, Thulani Mlauzi, Blessing Banda and Blessmore Moyo were on target at the weekend for a date with destiny at the next stage of the competition.
