The Sunday Mail
A 14-YEAR-OLD boy is going toe to toe with veterans in the Harare Men’s Volleyball League.
Takudzwa Mutanga is by far the youngest player in the league but is already being considered as one of Manyame Falcons’ key players.
“The boy is good, ask Harare City they will tell you about him,” said Falcons head coach Israel Bandawa.
“When we played them we took the first set thanks to Taku who was on fire. We eventually lost the match 1-3, but I felt vindicated that the faith I have in young players is paying off.
“Our junior policy is coming up well, we also have Terrence Chapfidzingwa (18) and Kuda Madondo (19) playing in the first team.”
But it is Mutanga who is grabbing all the attention and his coach says the starlet can only get better.
“He stands at 1,70m and has good technique. He will get better with more training,” Bandawa said of the Manyame Airbase Secondary School pupil.
We asked Harare City coach Willex Chisvo about Mutanga and the gaffer didn’t sound too keen on the matter.
“I wouldn’t take a 14-year-old into the senior league. However, if he is tall then he has a chance,” said Chisvo.
The City coach has also promoted young players with the highly rated Tatenda Masawi (18) of Churchill High School the pick of the crop.
“We also have Kuda Kadanda and Nigel Kadumba they are doing well. The future is in junior players and they have done extremely well for us,” said Chisvo.
Meanwhile, HVL Coaches Committee leader Donald Chademana commended Falcons for giving young players a crack at the big time.
“I think it’s important for the continuity of the league and moreover we need a solid base for the sport.
Exposing young players to such level of competition will ensure us of a constant supply of players.
“Credit to the coaches for showing confidence in these guys,” he said.
