Online Reporter
Langton Nyakwenda
FAR from the pressure and intense weekly scrutiny of the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League, veteran coach Jairos Tapera has quietly returned to where he believes the future of Zimbabwean football is forged — youth development.
After parting ways with Premier Soccer League side Manica Diamonds last year, Tapera exchanged packed stadiums and top-flight competition for the dusty training grounds of Kwekwe.
The experienced coach came within touching distance of guiding Manica Diamonds to a historic Premiership title in 2023.
However, fortunes later took a dramatic turn, and Tapera left the Mutare-based club in June last year.
Today, the former national Under-20 coach is back where many believe he does some of his best work — developing young talent through the JT Academy.
The move reflects Tapera’s long-standing commitment to nurturing the next generation of footballers and reinforces his enduring contribution to Zimbabwean football.
For years, Tapera has been regarded as one of the country’s most respected football minds.
His coaching career has included stints at FC Platinum’s youth development department, Shabanie Mine, South African side Black Leopards and former Castle Lager Premier Soccer League club Yadah.
Tapera also enjoyed a memorable spell at Manica Diamonds, transforming the Mutare outfit into genuine league title contenders.
In 2023, he masterminded a remarkable campaign that saw the Gem Boys finish runners-up to Ngezi Platinum Stars, the club’s highest finish in the Premier Soccer League.
His reputation and achievements also earned him the responsibility of leading the Warriors on an interim basis during the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. Yet despite his vast experience and reported interest from several clubs, Tapera has chosen a different path.
“There has been interest from some clubs but for now I am dedicating my time to junior football development. We have a lot of exciting players here in Kwekwe and surrounding areas and I want to make sure that talent blossoms,” he said.
Rather than waiting for another Premiership opportunity, Tapera has turned his focus towards strengthening the foundations of the game by identifying, nurturing and mentoring young footballers in Kwekwe and surrounding areas.
His efforts are already beginning to yield positive results.
JT Academy’s Under-15 side has secured an invitation to participate in the second edition of the Dinaledi International Football Cup, scheduled for July 18-19 in Oodi, Botswana.
The tournament is expected to attract some of Southern Africa’s leading football academies, including South African giants Mamelodi Sundowns and Kagiso Sports School of Excellence, Namibia’s Dokkies Schmidt Football Academy, as well as Botswana heavyweights Township Rollers and Gaborone United Sporting Club.
For Tapera, the invitation serves as confirmation that the academy is moving in the right direction.
“We are excited by this development which will obviously expose the young talent we have on the international stage,” he said.
The academy has also continued to attract growing support from the Kwekwe community, with prominent businessman Shepherd Chahwanda — owner of Premier Soccer League side Hardrock FC — among those backing the initiative.
JT Academy will use Chahwanda Stadium as its training base as preparations intensify for the Botswana tournament.
The invitation from Dinaledi Academy further highlights the growing reputation of Tapera’s youth development project.
Held under the theme Football Without Borders — Introducing Professional Football Development to Botswana, the tournament seeks to expose young players to elite competition while promoting professional football development across the region.
“This is another opportunity to showcase the talent emerging from Zimbabwe. By returning to grassroots football I think we are also helping build the pipeline that will supply future Premier Soccer League stars and Warriors internationals,” said Tapera.
His latest chapter may be unfolding away from the spotlight, but it could ultimately prove to be one of the most significant contributions of his coaching career.
For now, Tapera has chosen to build his legacy away from the Premier Soccer League touchline and instead on the dusty training fields where the dreams of tomorrow’s stars are first nurtured.
