Online Reporter
Sports Reporter
As the much-awaited Zifa elections set for January 25 take centre stage in domestic football, calls have been made for the electorate to choose leaders who prioritise grassroots football.
Junior football development expert Ricardo Hwasheni, who runs a thriving academy named Red Yellow Blue (RYB), believes the country’s approach to grassroots needs to be addressed.
Hwasheni believes many talented young footballers in remote areas and low-income suburbs are watching their dreams fade away because of a lack of support.
“People have been complaining about the state of our developmental football for years now. We have seen coaches and other individuals running their academies trying to develop talent without any support from the country’s football governing body.
“Now that elections for the Zifa Executive Board are around the corner, those are some of the issues that should be prioritised by those who choose leaders. Some of the names running for positions have been there before; we have seen what they have done in whatever capacity in football.
“So why should we continue experimenting? We need a good president who will take us further, and I believe Nqobile Magwizi will turn around Zimbabwean football with the help of people like Walter Musanhu. Looking at Magwizi’s manifesto, you would see that he is a man on a mission,” said Hwasheni.
Hwasheni said having an association that supports grassroots football will ease the burden for those that are participating in nurturing talent.
“Most of these academies are registered with Zifa, but there is not much that is channelled towards development. “We expect an association that has a blueprint and structures to pluck out talent in every corner of the country. Some of us have been running these academies with the help of individuals, and I want to thank my wife, Bridget, and my son, Michael. Sometimes I fail to pay his tuition, but I make sure that the boys at the academy have their school fees covered.”
Based in Banket, RYB has become a conveyor belt for Banket United and other clubs in the lower division as well as the top-flight. The academy has also sent aspiring footballers to foreign countries, with some getting scholarships.
“We have run this academy for years, helping children from underprivileged communities. We have sent youngsters to countries like South Africa, Division One and Two, and Premier Soccer League clubs as well.
“We are doing this to help the children realise that the talent they have can help them build their future. We are also trying to keep them busy and keep them away from drug abuse,” added Hwasheni.
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