Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
ARGUABLY Manicaland’s most organised and well-funded junior football club – Manicaland Juniors of Excellence Soccer Academy’s performance in the Jordan Zemura 33 Foundation Under-12 competition was a good advert for junior football development in the province.
The Mutare-based outfit, christened MAJESA, settled for silver in the competition, which featured eight junior age group clubs from different parts of the country.
Participating teams included Warren Park Five Academy, MAJESA Academy, ROHA Academy, BHOSA Academy, Selbourne Routlage, Golden Boys Academy, Crowhill Community Project Academy and Murehwa CPS.
The Jordan Zemura 33 Foundation is owned and run by national team player, Jordan Zemura.
MAJESA youngsters from Under-11s, 13s, 15s and 18s are under the tutelage of head coach, Edmore Shumba, assisted by Isaac Nengomasha, with Trymore Mvuri as the kit manager.
Nomsa Chave is the team manager, while Panganai Mbaradza is in charge of the administration office.
Mbaradza said they were excited with the performance displayed by the boys at the Jordan Zemura 33 Foundation competition.
“This is the reason why we were roped in as a member, which means we now have ties with the foundation,” he said.
MAJESA Academy won 2-1 against Golden Boys Academy in their opening match of the competition, before edging BHOSA Academy by a solitary goal.
The Mutare-based academy settled for a one-all stalemate with Crowhill Community Project in their third match to book a berth in the semi-finals. Majesa Academy walloped Murehwa CPS 3-0 in the semi-finals and went on to remain deadlocked at nil-all against Warren Park 5 in the final encounter.
MAJESA Academy were then beaten by Warren Park 5 in the dreaded penalty shootout lottery.
Among the MAJESA Academy top goal scorers were Accurate Ngorima and Leon Mukunga, with three goals each and Lawrence Mwakanya who found the target twice.
Ngoni “Saina” Marima of MAJESA Academy was named player of the tournament
Born Jordan Bhekithemba Zemura on November 14, 1999, he plays as a left-back for Serie A club, Udinese.
Born in England, Zemura represents the Zimbabwe national team.
Zemura joined Queens Park Rangers’ Academy at the age of six, spending three years there.
He had a brief trial with Chelsea, before moving to Charlton Athletic, where he spent eight years in their youth setup.
Zemura was signed by Bournemouth following a successful trial period in 2019.
On April 12 last year, Serie A side Udinese signed him on a four-year contract.
