Chronicle Editor
Nkosilathi Sibanda, [email protected]
LOCAL schools’ tournaments present a platform for football scouts to be on the look out for the next generation of top players who will build lifetime careers in the sport, the National Association of Secondary Heads (Nash) Arthur Maphosa has said.
Maphosa’s view came at a time when schools countrywide are competing in the Nash Proton-Surrey 20 and Under boys’ football tournament, with the finals to be hosted by Mzilikazi High School in Bulawayo on October 6-7.
This will be the fourth edition of the tournament that was launched in 2017 but had to be shelved in 2020 and 2021 due to Covid-19 lockdown.
Already, all provinces have completed the zonal stages and all is set for the inter-district clash coming up this Friday.
The Nash Proton-Surrey counts as one of the biggest schools’ football contests in the country.
As such, Maphosa said this prestigious tournament was touted as the best platform for scouts to identify talent for bigger and successful clubs locally and elsewhere.
“As Nash, we greatly value the importance of having scouts in all our tournaments.
“As we are conducting the Proton-Surrey 20 and Under tournament, we would want to encourage scouts from all provinces to visit venues where matches will be played.
“We are firmly grounded in unlocking talent that is hidden in schools and in order to do all, we have to open up to football scouts of repute. We would not want our talented children to miss out on life changing opportunities.
“Big clubs must send in their coaches so that they see for themselves. Our schools have an abundance of talent,” said Maphosa.
Schools’ tournaments of such importance have to be treated as more than just a competition but a stage for exposing players, according to Gwanda ZRP coach Morris Chiwara.
“In Zimbabwe football is usually played during the second term and to improve relations among schools, scouts and academies there will always be a need to work together throughout the year so as to continuously keep track of emerging talent.
“Clubs, regardless of their standing in local leagues rely on players from the school system.
“We appreciate the grooming done by the schools.
“It is up to us to make sure we go and watch our children play,” he said.
Chiwara revealed that it was of essence that schools, professional clubs and academies establish good relationships so as to monitor talent throughout the year.
“The three parties should know the ins and outs of each other so that they can find the perfect type of player that can benefit the three of them,” he said.
Maphosa said the hosting of the tournament in Bulawayo was sentimental.
“We are excited that Bulawayo is hosting.
“This is the province that hosted the first biggest schools’ tournament in 1989, then sponsored by CocaCola and went on to produce the great Peter Ndlovu. We look forward to the event.
Meanwhile, the inter-districts games in Bulawayo will be staged at Gifford High School on September 29.
By virtue of being the hosts, Mzilikazi High will field in two teams at the finals.
The hosting school’s province’s head-in-charge of football Christopher Dube revealed their readiness to welcome all provincial champions.
“Ours is a repeated statement that we are more than ready. We are doing all that is necessary to cap a good year in our football calendar,” said Dube.
Online Reporter