Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
NINE-YEAR-OLD Anashe Sithole – who traces his bloodline to the sprawling suburb of Gaza in Chipinge – is a gem undergoing polishing at Northampton Town Football Club in the United Kingdom.
Northampton Town Football Club is a professional association football club based in the town of Northampton in England.
The team competes in League One, the third level of the English Football League system.
Young Sithole, who is the latest addition to the long list of Zimbabwean youngsters getting trendy training material under the tutelage of qualified mentors in the diaspora, relocated to the UK in February this year to join his mother.
According to his father, Justice Sithole, his passion for football started when his dad’s young brother, Peace Sithole showed him video clips of Cristiano Ronaldo.
Justice Sithole, who hails from Gaza, Chipinge, introduced him to Belgravia Club Spicer Academy coached by George ‘Jojo’ Mhizha, a former Monomutapa player and coach.
He would attend weekend soccer sessions.
His passion inspired his mother to take him to UK to try his luck in his footballing journey.
When he arrived in UK in February, he looked around for an academy and joined Bradders Academy in Northampton, working with him every weekend.
In June 2024, he was invited for a trials at Northampton Town FC Under-9.
He went through a six-week rigorous training, before being signed and drafted into the squad.
His first game was in Daventry against Wycombe Wanderers Under-9.
He played in the midfield and central defence.
“He is a guy who is passionate, fearless and works very hard. I am going to support him till he reaches his goal. As I see it, he is a future Zimbabwe warrior,” he said.
