Online Reporter
Tadious Manyepo
Zimpapers Sports Hub
WALTER “Ringers” Musanhu has the world under his feet.
During his playing days at Motor Action, the 40-year-old wasn’t the best players at the club.
Maybe, he was unfortunate because he then faced the inconvenience of being compared to his brother Chamu, a key figure in Dynamos’ historic CAF Champions League final feat in 1998.
But Walter always exhibited those traits of greatness.
He decided to go developmental in unchartered waters of Beijing, China.
Despite the impediments and hurdles, Musanhu managed to stitch together what has now become a standard-bearing academy, Jadel Football Academy.
It’s now a flourishing project where children from different nationalities converge to speak the universal language of football.
Musanhu has won international awards and is now a global figure recognised for promoting cross cultural pollination using the most beautiful game.
“There is a need to prioritise grassroots development in the country. We have the potential but we don’t do things in a proper manner. Let’s start from the bottom going up and see if we fail,” said Musanhu.
“We have since started the journey that will culminate in our qualification for the World Cup in 2034. I can even give you guarantees.
“We will go and set up the JFA academy in each province and can even do so in every district. We will identify and mould the youngsters into the ideal players that can compete at a global level.
“We will have a huge pool of players who we will take to international tournaments in Europe and other continents. They will get used to modern day competition and build confidence.
“At the end of the next seven, eight years, they will be up there and we will start enjoying a period of visibility if not dominance across the world.
“We will not leave any kid out of this project. We want to turn all that potential into reality. I believe in winning and we will win.”
Musanhu is one of the 39 candidates running for the six available ZIFA executive member posts in Saturday’s ZIFA elections.
Stakeholders feel Musanhu should be voted into the board for him to fully implement his 2034 World Cup vision.
The JFA director will supervise the seventh edition of the JFA annual Under-12 tournament at Belgravia Sports Club on Saturday.
The tournament will see over 10 teams, including JFA China, taking part.
The JFA China team arrived in the country last Thursday and started the tour of Southern Africa, travelling to Zambia and Namibia to learn about the general culture from this part of the world. “
