Online Reporter
Collin Matiza-Zimpapers Sports Hub
UK-BASED Zimbabwean elite talent scout, Jomo Dyson Dzapasi, has showered praise on prominent local businessmen Scott Sakupwanya and Wicknell Chivayo.
He says the duo are changing the face of the domestic Premiership with their financial injections into the game.
Dzapasi, the Chief Scout for Europe and (Under-21s) at PYE Football Scouting, said the financial injection was just what the game was crying out for.
Over the past 15 years, Dzapasi’s Leeds-based PYE Academy has successfully bridged grassroots talent and professional contracts within the English Premier League, Championship, and Leagues 1 and 2.
Speaking to Zimpapers Sports Hub from his base in Leeds, England, yesterday, Dzapasi, recalled the painful decline of historic domestic football institutions due to a lack of funding.
“The team we grew up supporting and loving in Zimbabwe, Black Aces, completely folded because of financial challenges,” he said.
“We have also watched a giant like Dynamos fall from their traditional top-tier dominance to becoming an average performing team, purely due to a lack of resources.
“Without capital, football cannot survive.”
Dzapasi said champions Scottland were ticking all the boxes.
They are currently developing a US$30 million, 20 000-seater CAF-certified stadium in Mabvuku.
It will be added to their real estate portfolio which includes a US$15 million club village in Ruwa.
Chivayo has also poured millions into the domestic game.
He has bought luxury team buses for Dynamos and Highlanders and was crucial in bringing back Peter Ndlovu to the domestic football fold.
“What Scott and Wicknell are doing for football is absolutely awesome,” said Dzapasi.
“It is a massive step towards the true development of football in Zimbabwe.
“Africa has the resources, what we need is visionary leadership. What is stopping African corporates and successful business magnates from pouring money into our sport?
“We boast rich minerals and massive agricultural exports.
“It is time the African story changes. The world should be looking up to Africa, not the other way round.”
I think this Dzapasi talent scout is completely detached from football infrastructure development in this country. Here are some of the individuals and corporates that are developing football apart from Chivhayo and Sakupwanya.
1. Walter Magaya – Hearts Sports Complex Harare.
2. Shepherd Chahwanda- Chahwanda Sports Complex Kwekwe.
3. Simba Ndoro- Wadzanai Stadium Shamva.
4. Patrick Tamson – Ngoni Stadium Norton.
Corporates include:
Delta- Sponsors of Castle Premier League.
1. Tongaat Huletts: Gibbo Stadium.
2. Ngezi Platinum- Ngezi Platinum Sports Complex
3. Greenfuels – Greenfuels Sports Arena
4. Sakunda Holdings – National Sports Stadium
5. Several businesses sponsor the four ZIFA D1 leagues.
6. Mutapa Investment Fund – sponsors of the biggest football tournament in the country, the ZIFA Trophy.
Maybe Dzapasi didn’t know. Now he does.