adminLatwell Nyangu
FIVE teenagers have been chosen to join Twine Phiri’s Academy after demonstrating their talents during an anti-drug sports tournament.
The teenagers are affiliated with the Teen Rescue Mission (TRM), an organisation dedicated to deter young people from promiscuity.
TRM director, Abraham Matuka, said that their mission is to enable young people to empower themselves and through sports, TRM was able to identify some talented young players.
TRM is trying to combat drug and substance abuse using various programmes and they are delighted that they have helped more than 500 young people through life skills courses.
“We continue to discourage drugs as we open doors for young people to become what they want to be in life,” said Matuka.
TRM’s Major Chirombe said they are trying to fight drugs and substance abuse using different programmes like music, dance, drama, life skills, projects and sport.
“We are happy that as an organisation we have managed to help more than 500 youths in doing life skills courses and from that number, most youths are now working while others have created employment. As an organisation interacting with young people, we got to see that some of them have talent in different sports and felt we can’t leave them behind,” Chirombe said.
“We have lots of talent, especially in the high-density suburbs where drug abuse is rampant.”
The success of the TRM football team in their match against Phiri’s team at Raylton Club has given the young teens confidence in themselves and the belief that they should focus on what they want to achieve rather than drugs.
TRM is keen to take its football scouting programme to rural areas, where substance abuse is also prevalent.
The youngsters selected to join the academy expressed their delight and voiced their determination to encourage their peers to abstain from substance abuse.
Tafadzwa Nyamwanza (13) from Budiriro 2 said he never thought he would be selected.
“I thank God and want to encourage my fellow teens to abstain from drugs.
“If I was doing drugs, I might not have been here,” said Tafadzwa.
Goalkeeper Tavonga Dzapasi (16) from Kuwadzana 3 said:
“I have many friends who are into drugs and substance abuse and it’s so painful how our age group is being affected.
“Now that I have been selected, I am going to be a role model. I appeal to my peers to abstain from drugs and substance abuse.”
Other selected youngsters were Tanaka Sagomba (19), Hunly Solo (20) and Nyasha Ravu (20).
Mathew Masinge
Online Reporter