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Eddie Chikamhi Senior Sports Reporter
EUROPE-bound teenage goalkeeper, Malcolm Mapondera, has been encouraged to make good use of the opportunities ahead of him after joining a top academy in the Germany Bundesliga.
The former Zimbabwe Under-17 captain is set for a new adventure in Europe, where he will further his career, at top Germany side, FC Koln Academy.
Mapondera, who has been playing football on a scholarship in Dubai for the last two years, is set to shift base to Germany, early next month.
BN Academy director, Bheki Nyoni, said the move by one of their products, was likely to mirror the progress made by Warriors goal-minder, Martin Mapisa, in Spain.
“We are proud for him because Germany is a top football nation. He is set to benefit more, in terms of training equipment, and the modern training methods,’’ said Nyoni.
“I believe he has got the eye, the flexibility, the leg movement and most of the things that you would want from a top-notch goalkeeper.
“He has already secured his visa and will be starting early October in Germany.
“He will be there for one year but, if he continues to impress, then there is a possibility of extending or even moving higher up.
“So, we can only encourage him to grab the opportunity and shine. Personally, I will not be surprised to see him following in the footsteps of Martin Mapisa, whose career has blossomed in Spain, because of exposure and improved coaching.
“It’s not every day that we see goalkeepers getting such opportunities abroad.”
Mapondera was the first team goalkeeper for the Zimbabwe Under-17 team, at the 2028 COSAFA Cup, in Mauritius.
The team also had striker Tapiwa Mandinyenya, who recently signed for South African side JDR Stars, and FC Platinum rookie, Thandolwenkosi Ngwenya.
Mapondera was picked by BN Academy, during his primary school days at Hartmann House in Harare, and was nurtured by veteran goalkeeper mentor, Labani Kandi.
“Naturally goalkeepers are made. There is a lot of investment that takes place and I would like to credit Labani Kandi, for the transformation that we saw in Mapondera, over the years.
“He has groomed him well, as his private tutor.
“We recommended Kandi to work with him, with the blessings of his guardian, who had asked for the private grooming services.
“By the time he was in Form Three, he was already the first choice goalkeeper for St. George’s.
“And, by 2018, he was the first-choice goalkeeper for the Zimbabwe Under-17 side at the COSAFA tournament.
“When he moved to Dubai, he continued to be outstanding and, from the networks we have established in Europe, he managed to get an opportunity to go and train at a top academy in German,” said Nyoni.
Mapondera’s move comes barely two weeks after another young player, Macdonald Makoni, left the country to further his development in Dubai.
The 19-year old has joined Gulf United, which is regarded as the United Arab Emirates’ leading academy for development for young players, aged between eight and 23 years.
They are also the biggest scholarship provider in the Middle East, who facilitate movements for talented young players, to the United States and Canada.
Online Reporter