The ManicaPost
Ray Bande Senior Reporter
THE province’s first registered junior football academy — the Manicaland Juniors of Excellence Soccer Academy (Majesa) — was officially launched on Saturday.
The launch was attended by a number of football personalities, among them Zifa technical director Wilson Mutekede.
Majesa’s launch marked a shift from the province’s amateurish approach to junior football management.
The academy is a brainchild of football development enthusiast, Charles Chave.
Chave said he is seeking to develop grassroots talent in Manicaland.
Speaking at the launch, Mutekede hailed Majesa for setting the pace in junior football development in Manicaland.
“As football administrators, this is what we have been yearning for. We are excited that Majesa has become the first registered junior football academy in Manicaland.
“We hope to have more such projects in Manicaland. The corporate world needs to come in to support such initiatives. We cannot leave it to one person, this requires the support of both corporates and individuals. That is how the talent at the grassroots will be nurtured,” he said.
Mutekede said formal registration assists academies in safeguarding their investments in young talent.
“By formally registering with Zifa and Fifa, you protect your investment. When registered, you do not risk losing players to powerful clubs or academies without compensation,” said Mutekede.
Apart from being a talent nursery for youngsters, Majesa has pledged to pay school fees and buy school uniforms for promising football players from disadvantaged families.
The ambitious project has already enrolled a number of youngsters, some as young as eight years old.
