Visiting AC Milan technical director of junior football Fabrizio Bobbiesi, who is in the country on a talent scouting mission, has said he is impressed with the kids he has seen so far.
The 53-year-old Italian arrived in the country on Friday for a five-day training camp with the aim of identifying potential players for his club.
Churchill High School hosted the first day of training yesterday with an estimated 2 000 kids attending.
Bobbiesi is also expected to visit Watershed High School in Marondera later this week on a similar mission.
The lucky kids who will be selected will be afforded a lifetime opportunity to travel to Italy for trials with the former European giants’ football academy in October.
“I just started this morning (yesterday), but already I have seen that the children are full of eagerness. I have noticed a lot of interesting prospects here, but I will continue to assess the kids in the following days to see if there could be some possibilities,” said Bobbiesi through an interpreter.
The AC Milan scout is in the country at the initiative of the World Wide Scholarship (WWS)’s partnership with the Italian giants to identify young talent in Africa that can be developed in Italy.
AC Milan have fallen in love with African players after the exploits of Ghanaian Kevin Prince Boateng who joined the club last season and Nigerian defender Taye Taiwo has also joined the club this season.
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“African players are doing exceptionally well around the whole world, it’s a fact we cannot ignore. Without doubt I’m impressed with the kids’ calmness here and I’m confident that most of them here can make it not only in Italy but in other competitive leagues in the world.
“The Milan camp initiative in Africa is a fairly new concept but we hope to develop this partnership to give these youngsters a chance to showcase their talent,” added Bobbiesi.
WWS president Munya Maraire said he was excited with the huge turnout at Churchill High School yesterday and expected a number of kids to make the trip to Italy.
The final selection for the deserving kids will be done tomorrow and Friday.
Zimbabwe has never had a player in Italy and the closest that the nation came to having a player in Spain was when Joseph Ngwenya was invited for trials with Getafe some four years ago.
Warriors coach Norman Mapeza is on record saying he would prefer Zimbabwean players to try European countries than opting for South Africa all the time.
