THE football fraternity has praised Warriors captain Marvelous Nakamba for his foundation’s Under-17 Invitational Tournament, which was held at Chakona Stadium in Ingagula, Hwange, over the weekend.
The coal-mining town came alive as 10 teams from across the country converged for the competition, which showcased emerging talent from several regions. Hosts Hwange were crowned champions after edging Binga Soccer Academy 1-0 in the final on Sunday.
Zifa vice-president Kenny Ndebele attended the tournament and commended Nakamba and his family for their commitment to grassroots football development.
“This was a well-organised tournament. As the national football association, we would like to thank Marvelous Nakamba and his family for their continued support of football, particularly youth football,” hesaid.
“We desire to create clear pathways for young players.”
Ndebele said the association wants all provinces to have vibrant youth football structures. He added that Zifa plans to work closely with schools to ensure sustainable player development.
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Recently elected Zifa Southern Region vice-chairperson Tafadzwa Mutowa was also present at the tournament, which attracted large crowds from the Hwange community.
“This tournament went very well, and we are happy that it brought together players from all regions, including as far as Harare,” Mutowa said.
“There is a lot of talent here from Binga, Victoria Falls, Bulawayo, Nkayi and Harare. The future looks bright for the nation. It is exceptional for Marvelous to bring football to his home area. He is doing a great job for these boys.”
Former Hwange FC coach Nation Dube said the tournament had a significant impact on the local community.
“Junior football activities have not been happening here for some time. This platform should encourage local teams to invest in youth development. With initiatives like this, we are moving in the right direction,” Dube said.
Chicken Inn assistant coach Guide Goddard was also in Hwange on a talent-scouting mission and expressed admiration for the quality on display.
“Marvelous is doing a marvellous job for this community. There is so much talent here, but many players are overlooked because of where they come from,” Goddard said.
“I came here to scout, and I am impressed. These boys might not otherwise get opportunities to join clubs or build careers that can uplift their families.”
Victoria Falls-based Fifa-registered player agent Mandla Dingani also lauded the initiative, saying it provided a vital platform for talent identification.
“This is a noble idea by Marvelous Nakamba, who hails from Hwange. The area has produced stars before, such as Method Mwanjali and Walter Tshuma. We believe more talent can be unearthed here,” Dingani said.
“The tournament creates an opportunity to identify players who can go on to represent the country at the national level.”
Hosts Hwange finished the tournament unbeaten and were crowned champions in front of a large home crowd. Midfielder, Dean Jaire, was named Player of the Tournament.
Ndebele was the guest of honour at the final and was accompanied by Nakamba’s father, as well as Zifa officials Hardly Ndazi and Busani Dube from Matabeleland North, Tafadzwa Mutowa and Lovemore Kuvheya from Zifa Southern Region, Simon Tembo, secretary-general of the MNF Foundation, and Mehluli Thebe.
Final
Hwange 1–0 Binga Soccer Academy