By Byron Mutingwende
What appeared like an ordinary social gathering on 22 December 2017 at the Magna Mudyiwa Sports Tournament has proved otherwise; as it has become a launchpad for success to some Mudzi West residents.
The dexterity and skills on the ball displayed by eight of the 19 players impressed the discerning eyes of soccer scouts as they were selected to play for elite leagues.
“Following the Magna Mudyiwa Sports Tournament 19 players were selected for further trials. They were in camp at Chingwena Secondary School from 8-13 January 2018. On 13 January 2018 the team had a match at Kotwa where a coach from Division One was invited. Honourable Mudyiwa sponsored everything,” said Tinashe Mandinyenya, the Mudzi West Select Team Manager.
“On behalf of everyone in Mudzi West I would like to thank you Honourable Mudyiwa for your generous sponsorship of the training camp and the subsequent transportation of the team to Kotwa. We are indebted to you for the success of the training camp. The entire team is grateful for your kind gesture. You might be aware that this dream started in 2015 through the Mudyiwa sports tournament. We want to see a player identified in Mudzi play for a big club and the national team one day. Through your generous support this dream is beginning to bear fruits,” Mandinyenya ecstatically told Hon Mudyiwa.
He urged the legislator to continue supporting the talent identification programme going into the future.
The selected players selected from Mudzi West are: Vincent Chatambarara, Shelton Chibanda, Tafadzwa Mahoko, Nyaradzai Nyatsine, Tinashe Nyadzimba and Justin Japi. Those selected from Kotwa academy include Farai Mabhande, Devotion Mututa and Takudzwa Sarakunze.