The ManicaPost
Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
68-YEAR-OLD Mbuya Nelia Musikavanhu is no stranger to women football, not only in Mutare, but countrywide among those she has interacted in almost two decades she has used her own resources to fund Dangamvura-based Faithdrive Academy’s operations.
Only two weeks ago, Mbuya Musikavanhu, as she is fondly referred by more than 100 young female players she has looked after under her own roof, feeding them with proceeds from her herbal medication business, shed tears after her team was barred from fulfilling a league fixture, simply because she had failed to pay match officials the previous week.
It was a sorry sight at Nyamauru High School grounds as she uncontrollably wept, pleading with officials to let her team play as she had brought the money to pay the match officials from the previous week as well as for that fixture.
Her plea fell on deaf ears and the visiting team was instructed to leave the match venue and awarded maximum points on a walkover basis.
Such is the callous and diabolic nature of local football administration, which ironically, is desperately trying to lure the same sponsors it inhumanely frustrates!
“I had not paid referees the previous week because my payments from overseas arrived late. I pledged to meet the costs the coming week.
“I went to the match venue with the enough money to pay the match officials for the weeks in question, but to my surprise I was told that we could not play.
“I was really hurt. I cried, but no one could understand me. The visiting team was instructed to leave the pitch and they were awarded the points on a walkover basis,” narrated Mbuya Musikavanhu, who had tears streaming down her left cheek during the interview with Post Sport on Monday afternoon at her Dangamvura residence as she recalled the nasty treatment she least expected from administrators of a game she has financially supported from personal coffers since 2004.
No wonder Mbuya Musikavanhu, who formed Faithdrive Academy back in 2004 in Dangamvura believes that the game of football is in dire need of sponsorship, especially for women football.
Mbuya Musikavanhu outlined how she started Faithdrive Academy, saying: “I started the football for girls’ project in 2004 with 25 players. I realised that the players we were grooming were being stolen by other teams without any form of compensation and decided to formalise our operations and registered the academy in 2013.”
Her passion for sport started with her own participation in netball in high school.
“I used to play netball and I earned a scholarship from Rebai Secondary School to Emerald Hill Secondary School in Chipinge because of my outstanding performances in netball. I used to be featured in the then Umtali Post and African Times as an outstanding goal scoring machine.
“If we had women football back then, perhaps I would have played football because I love the sport,” said the 68-year-old, who is also a well-known herbalist.
Since its formation, Faithdrive Academy has been a talent nursery of repute, churning out players, some of whom have donned the Mighty Warriors apparel.
“We have produced a lot of players and I can safely say there is no uniformed services team, especially in the Premiership and Division One that does not have a Faithdrive Academy product,” she said.
While sponsorship has been a major challenge, Faithdrive Academy has benefited from a shrewd move to partner Nyamauru High School where young female players — from Form One to Form Six — are enrolled on a scholarship basis.
Apart from the education at Nyamauru High, the girls, not only benefit from Faithdrive football technical expertise, but also moral guidance from Mbuya Musikavanhu
The passionate football benefactor personally lights up the fire every day to cook for the girls.
“Our partnership with Nyamauru High School has been mutually beneficial. The community has also benefited since we are promoting young talent from Dangamvura.
“The parents of more than 100 children who stayed at our Academy Club House appreciate the moral lessons we impart to their children.
“I do not allow the girls to go out alone and I am very particular about their movements in terms of the time they spend out whenever one asks to go somewhere.
“Night movements is a big NO. I actually have time to monitor their behaviour as a big aunt and also counsel them. I personally cook for them and I use proceeds from my herbal business to get food for the girls.
“I have clients in the Diaspora who religiously sent payments for my services as well as many local clients,” she said.
