John Ndlovu and Clive Thabo Dube
A football Academy targeting girls has been active under the radar in rural Hwange at Makwandara Primary School in the Dete area.
According to the founder of this football Academy Tawanda James Zazu who is a teacher at Makwandara Primary School, the aim of establishing this institute is to spread the game of football to the marginalised areas of the country.
“Young Sables Soccer Academy in association with the community and a few donors in the Hwange rural areas has for the last few years empowered the girl child through the game of football. In 2023 besides imparting soccer skills to the rural girls, we are also starting a feeding programme targeting players and members of our community from poor backgrounds.” Zazu told ZIM GBC NEWS.
Young Sables ply their trade in the Hwange league, but they visit the City of Bulawayo annually to be exposed to top women’s football teams such as Bulawayo Chiefs(Amakhosikazi), Street set, Loxion Vipers and Western Rangers.
“We are currently searching for ways to assist the girls coming through our system post-formal education. Through our donors, we are planning to start income generating projects for our school leavers.”said Zazu who is also the Sports Director at Makwandara Primary School.
He also said that since the Academy was established, the problem of early pregnancies has been nipped in the bud in Dete and surrounding areas through women’s football.