The ManicaPost
Freedom Mutanda Chipinge Correspondent
FOOTBALL-loving folks in Chipinge urban will witness the birth of Chipinge Junior Soccer League starting early next year in an ambitious grassroots development initiative aimed at exposing hidden talent.
Chipinge has produced prominent football players in yesteryear such as Lovemore “Thula” Mapuya and Eddie Dube and the emergence of a new junior league in the small farming town is expected to rekindle the spirit of nurturing talent at grassroots level.
The ambitious Chipinge Junior League project — comprising Under-15 and Under-17 junior soccer leagues — is sponsored by Chipinge-born former Gaza Gunners director Shingi Mathabuka.
It all started with an Under-15 boys soccer gala which Mathabuka, a former Mt Selinda High School student, sponsored and after seeing how successful the fete had been, the former Division One football player-turned- businessman then decided to sponsor a fully-fledged league.
Mathabuka said: “The formation of the junior league is a start towards an all-inclusive junior football league which would cover the length and breadth of Chipinge district.”
Cannias Mwakanya, popularly known as “Gonzo” during his playing days in Chipinge, is the administrator of the league.
Makwanya, who is also the proprietor and coach of E Rovers Soccer Academy, said other regions had thriving junior leagues and he sought to emulate them.
He said: ‘’I noted that other regions have successful junior football leagues thereby developing the tactical aspect of the game to the players at a young age. I also discovered that teams with thriving junior leagues tend to produce very good senior team players.
“Across the world, Liverpool has decided not to go to the outside market preferring to raise the standard of its Under-18s and Under-23s. Chipinge can do the same thing if it hopes to get a Premier League team by 2023.’’
There are six teams in the Chipinge Junior League and they are all domiciled in the town for ease of transport.
‘’Our aim is to develop good players from a young age. We draw the participants from schools and academies. Chipinge and Gaza High schools headline the schools’ contingent while E Rovers, Rising Stars, FC Gabana and Chipinge Junior Academy are the other participants,’’ Vivian Mareya, another former defensive linkman with Dairisteri FC and now acting chaiperson of the league, said.
The matches are played on a home and away basis and provide entertainment for the soccer-starved community every other weekend. Soccer enthusiasts and experts hailed the introduction of the junior league.
Edmore Mtetwa, the Gaza High School coach said: ‘’This gives a window of opportunity for budding soccer players to showcase their talent. I appeal to clubs to come and watch these matches for future stars come from these seemingly mundane leagues. Look at Marvelous Nakamba, whose Hwange origins may not have been inspiring but Methembe Ndlovu saw in him a gem-in-waiting to be polished. Junior football is the way to go for the development of soccer in Zimbabwe.’’
