Covid-19 casts shadow over schools sport

12 Jun, 2022 - 00:06 0 Views
Covid-19 casts shadow over schools sport

The Sunday Mail

Langton Nyakwenda

WHILE many recognise Hardlife Zvirekwi as one of the finest footballers to emerge over the last decade, few are aware of another rising star from the Zvirekwi family.

Hardlife won the Premier Soccer League championship with Gunners in 2009 before claiming another title with CAPS United in 2016 on his way to being crowned Soccer Star of the Year.

However, those at Pamushana High School are convinced that 19-year-old Emmanuel Zvirekwi is actually more gifted than his elder brother Hardlife, who turned 35 in May.

Emmanuel, a Lower Six learner at the Bikita-based school, is a highly-rated striker who could have moved to a PSL club during the mid-season window had he not chosen to concentrate on his Advanced Level studies.

“The boy is so good that he could have been joining one of the clubs.

“Unfortunately, he is also an academically-gifted student and chose to go for his Lower Six education,” revealed Farai Dhliwayo, Legends Academy coach.

Emmanuel trains with Legends Academy in Harare when he is not at school.

There hasn’t been football in schools since 2019 due to Covid-19 and bright football prospects like Emmanuel have largely been affected.

Hockey, athletics and rugby, among a host of sporting disciplines, have been similarly affected.

Although most budding footballers have joined football academies across the country, school football, which provides a platform for most young players, has been seriously disrupted.

The Copa Coca-Cola Under-15, Proton and Surrey Under-20 are some of the major tournaments that were held in schools before Covid-19.

Emmanuel Zvirekwi is one of hundreds of talented young footballers in schools who have been denied a platform to showcase their talent.

However, Government has given secondary schools the greenlight to resume contact sports once they reach 100 percent vaccination.

Schools with 70 percent vaccination have been allowed to start non-contact sports.

“The impact has been huge; we have so many students who would have made their breakthrough via sport but unfortunately because of lack of participation they are idle,” said Knowledge Makaudze, Pamushana High School sporting director.

Pamushana High, which is located in Bikita near Nyika Growth Point, is a football powerhouse.

Their recent major triumph was at the 2018 Copa Coca-Cola tournament.

A number of players that are playing or have played in the Premier Soccer League also passed through the school.

These include Gabriel Nyoni, Simba Nhivi, Takudzwa Chimwemwe, Takudzwa Mahori, Raphael Muduwiwa, Gift Saunyama, Artwell Mukandi, Tatenda Chikwende, Denzel Chimwemwe, Emmaculate Mauna, Blessing Sahondo and Derwin Phiri.

Pamushana High head coach Bernard Matenga explained how they became a football talent factory.

“Football is a culture here and we take it very seriously,” said Matenga, who has been at the school since 2009.

“So, that culture of always playing to win trophies is inculcated in anyone who comes here. We also put more emphasis in training.

“Sadly, we have talent here that has not been exposed in the last two years.

“Special mention is Emmanuel Zvirekwi, who is a very brilliant player but has not played school football in the last two years.”

Pamushana High school head Agrippa Moyo also lamented the absence of secondary school sport.

“Some who left the school in the last two years did not get a chance to showcase their talent to scouts.

“And yet most of them chose this school specifically for the sporting aspect,” said Moyo.

“We have students who have earned scholarships through sport.

“We also have an athlete who is now in America on a scholarship.

“So, you can see how much we have lost in the last two or so years.”

National Association of School Heads (Nash) president Arthur Maphosa is confident “most schools” are now ready for the return of sport.

“The schools have suffered terribly and our learners have suffered terribly, too,” said Maphosa, who is headmaster at Gwanda High.

“These tournaments, especially the Copa Coca-Cola under-15, have taken our students far into the region and overseas, where they go for some high-performance training.

“There, they are also exposed to the highest level of football facilities and even matches.

“Even the income that schools get from winning the Copa Coca-Cola has been lost.

“Children who were Under-15 three years ago and were supposed to participate in these tournaments lost that time and opportunity.”

Schools have been working closely with the Ministry of Health and Child Care to ensure every child that is 12-years-old and above is vaccinated.

Former Pamushana High School head Johnson Madhuku, who is now Member of Parliament for Bikita East, emphasised the importance of sport in schools.

 

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