Online Reporter
Fungai Muderere, [email protected]
CASTLE Lager Premier Soccer League (PSL) side TelOne has taken a significant step towards securing its long-term future after officially launching the Mambo High School Football Academy in Gweru, a grassroots initiative designed to nurture young talent while combining education and elite football development.
The launch forms part of the WiFi Boys’ 10th anniversary celebrations and comes at a time when the club is enduring a difficult run of form in the top-flight league under coach Saul Chaminuka.
Despite their struggles on the pitch, TelOne’s leadership has shifted focus towards creating a sustainable football development structure that will serve both the club and the wider Midlands province community for years to come.
According to details released by the club, the academy seeks to bridge the gap between school football and the professional game by providing student-athletes with an opportunity to continue their academic studies while receiving structured, high-performance football training.
“One of the academy’s major objectives is to establish a direct talent pipeline into the senior TelOne squad. The club believes the project will help identify and develop promising young players from the Midlands region and gradually integrate them into professional football,” said TelOne club president Oscah Nduwure.
The initiative will also see TelOne deploy qualified coaches to work with the academy players using the club’s established football philosophy. Young footballers are expected to benefit from professional training methods aimed at preparing them for the demands of competitive football.
Beyond training, academy teams will participate in regional junior leagues and the prestigious National Association of Secondary Heads (NASH) tournaments, providing youngsters with valuable competitive exposure.
The club has further committed itself to providing official kits and modern training equipment, ensuring the academy operates in a professional environment.
TelOne described the project as a key Corporate Social Responsibility programme focused on youth empowerment through sport while promoting academic excellence.
The launch has been welcomed as a positive development for football in the Midlands, a province that has produced several talented players over the years.
For TelOne, the academy could prove to be a vital investment as the club seeks to strengthen its future amid current challenges in the Premier Soccer League. While results on the field have been difficult to come by in recent weeks, the establishment of a structured youth development pathway demonstrates a commitment to building a stronger foundation for sustained success.
By combining classroom education with elite football mentoring, the Mambo High School Football Academy aims to create well-rounded student-athletes and establish itself as a model for youth development in Zimbabwe.
With the WiFi Boys looking to rediscover their winning touch in the league, the academy offers supporters a glimpse of a brighter future built around home-grown talent and long-term sustainability.-@FungaiMuderere
