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Aces produce another ‘polished diamond’

Sport
ACES Youth Academy — a conveyor belt of soccer talent in Zimbabwe  — has given the country another gem in 21-year-old goalkeeper Jinn Murevanomwe, described by legendary former Highlanders goalkeeper Peter Nkomo as “a polished diamond”.

BY TAWANDA TAFIRENYIKA

ACES Youth Academy — a conveyor belt of soccer talent in Zimbabwe  — has given the country another gem in 21-year-old goalkeeper Jinn Murevanomwe, described by legendary former Highlanders goalkeeper Peter Nkomo as “a polished diamond”.

The Aces Youth Academy product has been working with Nkomo before the COVID-19-induced lockdown.

Nkomo, one of the first footballers to go for an international tour in post-independent Zimbabwe as part of the national Under-23 team that participated at the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games held in the Soviet Union, is now at TelOne.

He played at Highlanders in the 1980s along other greats such as Titho Paketh, Titus Majola, Netsai Moyo and Rahman Gumbo.

The Bosso legend said of Murevanomwe: “He is a good goalkeeper. He is a polished diamond. He is now mature and ready to compete with any goalkeeper. He just needs to work a little bit on crosses, otherwise he is destined for greater heights.”

The agile goalkeeper’s CV is impressive, winning several medals as a high school student.

In 2013, Murevanomwe was Zimbabwe Under-14 goalkeeper at the Confederation of School Sport Associations of Southern Africa tournament in Namibia.

Two years later, he kept goal for the Zimbabwe Under-16 at the Copa Coca-Cola tournament in South Africa.

In 2016, he was Methodist Schools Sports Association keeper of the tournament.

He rose to prominence in 2012 when he became first choice goalminder at Chemhanza Primary School. In 2013, he was voted Mashonaland East best player.

He then enrolled with Aces between 2013 and 2020. Aces Youth Academy has churned out several stars, among them Warriors forwards Khama Billiat, Knowledge Musona and goalkeepers George Chigova and Martin Mapisa to whom Murevanomwe would be looking to emulate.

Follow Tawanda on Twitter @Tafitawa