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MARVELOUS Nakamba speaks about junior football with the kind of conviction that comes from lived experience.
He has seen what early exposure can do for a young player, and the Warriors captain is determined to make sure more children get that chance. His voice rises when he talks about it, as if every word carries a challenge to the country to take its youth more seriously.
The midfielder is bringing his annual tournament back to Hwange on 13 and 14 December, a decision that ties his career to its beginnings. The idea was sparked by one player, Prosper Madera, who first caught attention at the Nakamba Foundation Soccer Festival in 2022.
Two weeks ago in the Middle East, Madera lined up next to Nakamba for the Warriors, helping Zimbabwe beat Qatar 3–1. For the captain, that moment confirmed why development work matters.
“The lads deserve to play more football and be exposed. They must travel a lot when they are young, get the feel of different environments, enjoy the game, kids enjoy advantage,” he said from his Birmingham home on Thursday.
There was pride in his voice when he spoke about Madera’s journey.
“To be honest, am very excited that at least one player from that effort is playing at this level. Having him besides me meant a lot to me. I wish that goes to inspire many more juniors,” he said.
Choosing Hwange as the venue feels personal. This is where everything started for him, long before Europe, long before fame.
“Charity begins at home. It all started there, my father played for Zesa Hwange now Megawatt and Hwange FC. As a kid, I had my first kick around in Dinde in Hwange, it’s a great thing to give back and hopefully inspire a kid or two.
“We would like to contribute to making Hwange great as a football and sporting town. The Colliery boss, William Gambiza has made the ground fertile for us to be excited to return home and invest in sport and fights against drug and substance abuse,” said Nakamba.
His message to the next generation is simple. Play more, stay focused, avoid the traps that have swallowed many. Stories of young talent derailed by drugs or early sexual activity trouble him deeply.
“It’s sad to hear that a once promising talent has been lost to drugs and involved in early sexual activity. We want to help them nurture their God given talents and prosper in the future,” he said.
For Nakamba, sport is more than recreation. It is a pathway out of trouble, a pillar in national development, and the heartbeat of an industry that shapes lives.
“Sport is a key component of the National Development Strategy and also features in the SDGs. Soccer contributes significantly to what sport is as a billion dollar industry,” he said.
If his schedule allows, he hopes to be in Hwange during the tournament, even briefly, to share a few words with the boys. The encouragement of a national captain, in the town that raised him, could be the spark that pushes another young player toward a future they had never imagined.
Online Reporter