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Chapfika’s Spanish nightmare

Sport
Sprouting Football Academy director Calvin Nyazema has said they would recall their midfielder Yasser Chapfika who has been undergoing trials in Spain for the last three months. The 21-year-old player, who has represented all junior national team, first took a shot at Spanish La Liga side Almeria before trying his luck at some lower division […]

Sprouting Football Academy director Calvin Nyazema has said they would recall their midfielder Yasser Chapfika who has been undergoing trials in Spain for the last three months.

The 21-year-old player, who has represented all junior national team, first took a shot at Spanish La Liga side Almeria before trying his luck at some lower division teams, but all in vain.

His manager Nyazema said Chapfika should return home and play for another season in the local league before he resumes searching for a home in Europe.

Chapfika, on loan to Shooting Stars this season, sneaked out of the country for his Spanish jaunt at the recommendation of an Italian scout who had been impressed by the youngster’s football exploits.

“Yes, our player Yasser Chapfika has been on trials in Spain for the past three months. Initially he was at Almeria before he ended up at division two clubs. We are thinking he has to come back and play for another season before he tries again. By the New Year, I am sure Yasser would be at home,” said Nyazema.

Sprouting Academy has also nurtured Archford Gutu, Motor Action new signings Morris Kadzola and Francis Nico as well as Hwange new signings Kuda Chipere and Erick Chipeta.

Meanwhile, Swedish Ambassador to Zimbabwe Anders Liden has hailed Gutu’s move to Swedish top-flight side Kalmar FF as a development which could open doors for other local players to break into that league.

“Hopefully he will make it in Sweden. If he succeeds — which I think he will — people there would know there are very good players in Zimbabwe. It would also be up to his club to come here and recruit more players.

“I can also see he has a social talent and he can easily make friends. Sometimes it takes time to make friends, but he should just continue being positive and try to adjust to everything in Sweden.”

Gutu leaves on January 2. Kalmar who finished eighth in the 16-team Swedish Allvenskan will be playing in next year’s Uefa Europa league after finishing as runners-up in that country’s premier knockout competition.