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Tadious Manyepo recently in MUTARE
HE has been in the game for the past 30 years.
His passion and drive for grassroots development are unrivalled.
At 54, coach Timothy “Sicho” Masachi has nurtured more than 200 football players who have broken into professional ranks.
Players like the 2011 Soccer Star of the Year Washington Arubi, SuperSport United captain Onesimor Bhasera, ex-Dynamos midfielder Wonder Sithole, Willard Katsande and current Black Rhinos skipper Farai Banda are amongst those developed by the Mutare-based gaffer.
Yet Masachi gets little to zero returns for his unparalleled work in Manicaland.
He doesn’t despair though.
“I have been coaching junior football since 1992. It’s something I love, it’s something that warms my heart,” said Masachi.
“I think the majority of players from Manicaland who have been to the professional structures passed through my hands.
“I am happy with the work I am doing. We have several players who have grown to be in the Premiership with Yadah’s Fortune Binzi and Tendai Matindife of Ngezi Platinum Stars being the most recent.”
Masachi mentors La Sakubva Academy across four age-groups from Under-9, Under-12, Under-15 and Under-20, which plays in the Second Division. And on Saturday, Masachi added another feather to his cap when La Sakubva Under-15 romped to victory in the annual Mai Hondo tournament at Sakubva.
The hugely-subscribed tournament, which is held to commemorate the late Gogo Prisca Matimati who died in 2005, made a resounding rebound following a two-year Covid-19-enforced break.
Twenty boys Under-15 teams, including some from Binga and Masvingo as well as 12 Under-17 girls teams, battled it out for honours before a huge crowd at Sakubva.
And it was La Sakubva, who were defending the title they won in the last edition in 2019, who managed to sail through in the boys’ section.
The Masachi-coached boys needed a late equaliser to force a 1-1 regulation time deadlock against rivals Sherkon Stars before they came good 4-2 on penalties.
Mutare City beat Faith Drive Academy 3-1 on penalties in the girls’ category, the final having ended in a goalless draw in regulation time.
Organisers of the fiesta, whose theme hinges on fighting vice amongst the youths, also brought in different services, including male circumcision, HIV tests and counselling as well as psychological services to talk to the youths.
And Masachi, whose academy also thrives to transform the youths through football, was left a happy man.
“I am happy my team managed to win this tournament. We had met two times in the final against Sherkon Stars in 2016 and 2018. We lost on both occasions and we were very nervous playing against them in this final.
“But I am glad, we managed to get a late equaliser and then win via the penalty lottery,” said Masachi.
“As an academy, we are also very happy that the organisers brought in other life support services to help change the children’s perception of life.
“By bringing these children to our academy, we intend to make them not only good footballers but also good people in the society.
“We strive to transform children so they shun prostitution, drug abuse and other vice.”
Tournament organiser and sponsor, Blessing Mutsaka, said the competition was encouraging.
“We tried by all means to curb age-cheating in this tournament. The competition was very high and we hope that the aims were achieved.
“We would like to build a complete human being who is well-mannered and able to execute given tasks coming from this tournament,” said Mutsaka.
“It’s not just about football. It’s about building a society which is free from drugs and prostitution. That is the reason why we have brought counselling services as part of the tournament.
“We want to see well-behaved kids who see value in living a clean life. We value their future and we hope that through continued engagement, we will be able to score successes in this regard.”
Online Reporter