adminTadious Manyepo
Sports Reporter
INTERNATIONALLY-ACCLAIMED football coach Phillip Zulu says Zimbabwe stands to immensely benefit from a Samba-development approach which he intends to introduce on a larger scale.
Zulu, who is famed for his UK-based Super Eagles Futsal project, has been awarded a lease to the new astro turf small-sided pitches which are almost complete in the Madokero area of Harare.
The new sports complex is a modern architectural design that includes a US$10m shopping mall. The first phase of the sports complex has two small-sided pitches which Zulu say will help to spur the Samba and Tiki Taka philosophies which he used in the UK to develop most youngsters who have progressed into top-flight professional football.
In UK, Super Eagles Futsal managed to mentor and develop many youngsters that include the likes of Bobby Kamwa (ex-Leeds United FC, now with Burton Albion FC), Clark Odour (ex-Leeds United FC, now with Barnsley FC), Jimiel Chikukwa (ex-Leeds United FC, Watford FC and at QPR) and Tavonga Khuleya (Doncaster Rovers FC), among others.
And Zulu intends to use the same model he implemented in the UK to develop talent in Zimbabwe.
“Super Eagles Futsal is bringing Samba and Tiki Taka philosophy to local grassroots structures as a solution to our declining standards that have driven away fans from watching local football in stadiums.
“At this stage of our football demise and despondency, we chose to focus on the strategic plan of partnering property developers who value the well-being of the neighbourhoods and wider communities,” said Zulu.
“Our football is crying out loud for pragmatic solutions and we feel that this aesthetic sports complex will go a long way in bringing about progressive Samba and Tiki Taka modules that are already being applied to a group of 60 young players who train at Alex Sports Club in Harare (every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday after school for afternoon sessions) and every Saturday morning.
“The response has been very impressive as local schools, academies and established clubs have shown huge interest.”
Zulu said the latest programme will kick-start this December in Madokero upon the projected completion of the complex.
“The new sports complex is highly likely to start in December of this year thus allowing our programmes to be implemented during the school break and festive season. I have been working hard for the past four months around Harare and in small towns, mentoring the grassroots coaches who have their own academies to help them improve the coaching systems for young players.”
Zulu is back in Zimbabwe after spending several years in the UK and he is being courted by different top-tier teams who are interested in his technical services.
Online Reporter