The Sunday Mail
Catch Them Young sporting program was recently held in the high density suburb of Mufakose. It ended after three days of talent searching and grooming of tomorrow’s superstars.Attracting over 250 children of the ages between 9 and 13 the grassroots sports development program held its fifth edition. The youngsters had three days off the streets at a local sports field learning how to play cricket, hockey and soccer from professional coaches and current players of those respective sporting disciplines.
Catch Them Young founder and director Jeremiah Matibiri said ‘‘We have discovered that we are losing many potential stars in sports as most talent is perishing at a tender age due to lack of exposure mostly in high density suburbs unless one has been given a scholarship at a group-A school.
‘‘This program is here to expose and develop future exceptional sport personalities mostly those who cannot access better facilities.’’
After two days of ‘‘Skills and Drills’’ sessions, coaches selected children in cricket and hockey to apply the skills they learnt in a game situation as they made up teams in preparation of a closing tournament which was held at Mufakose 1 High School.
Junior soccer clubs in the area were accommodated as most of the youngsters who attended soccer sessions are already players at their respective teams which were available. One of the notable youngsters was Rufaro Chakanetsa.
Winners of the tournament walked away with a Catch Them Young t-shirt making them ambassadors of the program in the high density suburb. Coaches acknowledged that Catch Them Young is an initiative which can highly improve the sporting industry in the country and produce great stars like Khama Billiat, a Mufakose product too, after they identified some youngsters who are passionate with their respective sports.
One Conrad Nyambabvu, a volunteer coach for soccer said ‘‘This is what has been lacking in our local sport especially in high density areas like Mufakose. Catch Them Young has given youngsters opportunities to showcase their talents in soccer, cricket and hockey whilst some children have developed an interest in one of the sports. If we have more youngsters being exposed we will definitely produce other Khama Billiats.’’
Mufakose is known for producing quality footballers from the era of Memory Mucherahowa, Joel Shambo and Moses ‘‘Bambo’’ Chunga and now it’s the generation of Khama Billiat, Dominic Chungwa and Tafadzwa Kutinyu.
Apart from sport development Catch Them Young also imparted some life skills as the youngsters were discouraged from taking drugs.
‘‘It’s a good thing to have these children coming, if they were in streets they would have drifted to things which are not worthwhile. It is a blessing to have parents who released their children to take part on this program and spend their energy on a beneficial course,’’ continued the ICC International cricket standing umpire Matibiri hailing parents for availing their children.
Among the professional coaches and players was the Zimbabwe A side cricket team bowler Victor Nyauchi and former Dynamos player George Chirambarara.
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