The Sunday Mail
Langton Nyakwenda recently in ZAKA
UNMINDFUL of the almost unbearable searing summer temperatures at this popular rural growth point, entrepreneurs go about their daily hustle.
Some are selling beverages and food items, including boiled eggs, to touts jostling for commuters at the ever-busy bus terminus.
At the same time, different types of music — predominantly sungura tunes — are belting from bottle stores dotted around this vibrant place.
In the middle of all this hustle and bustle, a group of businessmen and a lady are engrossed in a meeting at a local motel.
They are tying down the nitty-gritties of a football project they believe can transform, not only the face of Jerera Growth Point, but the whole of Zaka District and Masvingo province.
Apart from current Warriors’ number one keeper Elvis Chipezeze and 2013 Soccer Star of the Year finalist Menard Mupera, nothing big, football-wise, has come out of Zaka — an area known more for its oppressive temperatures and mythical cultism.
However, something is brewing in Zaka, some 330km away from the capital, and a highly expectant and boastful local community is anxious about this football project, which is exciting those in the corridors of power at the Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA).
ZIFA president Felton Kamambo says he will personally pay a visit and witness, first-hand, this unique project.
National team goalie Chipezeze, who hails from a village situated about 2km away from Jerera Growth Point, is expected to play an ambassadorial role for Eastern Region Division One’s new football kid on the block.
Zaka Academy Football Club will become the first club from Zaka to play Division One football when action returns early next year.
Founded in 2018, Zaka Academy FC — which draws most of its talent from secondary schools in the district — played Division Two football for only one season, in 2019.
They won promotion into the Eastern Region Division One League via a play-off at the end of that season.
Covid-19 delayed their Division One debut and the team’s leadership is now gearing for the return of football in 2021.
Former Fire Batteries, Dynamos and Kaizer Chiefs utility player Hussein “Ninja” Amidu has been appointed head coach and the team will use Jerera Stadium as their home.
“We can’t wait for the day when Zaka Academy FC will host its first Division One football match at Jerera. Everyone here is excited about this project,” a tout at Jerera bus terminus, Peter Zhanda, told The Sunday Mail Sport.
“You see, people look down on us . . . but this football project will prove that something good can also come out of these so-called backward areas.”
Renovations
The ZIFA First Instance Board toured Jerera Stadium at the beginning of the year and listed the outstanding requirements for the facility to meet Division One football standards.
“The goal-posts need to be changed, the turf needs to be worked on and the changing rooms need some sprucing up.
“We have engaged Zaka Rural District Council so that they can help us with the refurbishment of the stadium.
“So far, a perimeter fence has been erected. I think we will meet the required standards, but we are appealing to the council to assist us,” said Davyson Mavenga, Zaka Academy FC spokesperson.
Zaka Rural District Council chief executive officer David Batsirai Majaura reaffirmed the local authority’s commitment to assist.
“It (Zaka Academy FC) has put Zaka District on the national map,” an elated Majaura said.
“Work has begun at the stadium; we ran around to get some funding — which was not on our initially budget — just to make sure work starts.
“There has never been a Division One football team in this area and we are excited about the business opportunities that should be opened up by this football project,” he said.
Zaka Academy FC are sponsored by Zaka-born economist Persistence Gwanyanya through the Bullion Group of Companies.
Their biggest sponsorship deal to date is the US$40 000 partnership they signed with the Bullion Group of Companies on March 3, 2020.
“The sponsorship deal is a win-win situation in the sense that Bullion Group of Companies, as part of its broad social responsibility, is fighting against drug abuse.
“So they came to twin with us. As we play football, we are also simultaneously embarking on an anti-drug abuse campaign,” said Mavenga.
Experience
Zaka Academy FC chairperson Lovemore Bumhudza outlined the team’s thrust before confirming the appointment of Amidu as the new substantive coach.
“Partson Zarira was the coach when we were still Division Two, but we have seen it fit to appoint a high-profile coach with the requisite qualifications for Division One football.
“Hussein Amidu will be our new head coach and he will work with Zarira. Amidu comes with a wealth of experience having also played the game at the highest level,” said Bumhudza.
Amidu has coached in the Eastern Region before, at Mkwasine, and also had stints with lower-division teams in Malawi and South Africa.
“Our target is modest. We just want to survive in Division One, groom and expose the players who had no opportunities before.
“We have a twinning arrangement with St Anthony’s High School but our net is wider. We draw our talent from the 42 secondary schools in Zaka.
“We work in conjunction with the National Association of School Heads (nash) and we are always monitoring talent at their football tournaments.
“Some of our players come from areas such as Njiva, Bvukururu and Muroyi. We are looking forward with hope and are proud to be from Zaka,” said Bumhudza, who heads a seven-member executive committee.
Peter Muchenje is the vice chairperson, Partson Zarira the vice secretary, while Albert Mazvanya is the treasurer.
Vengesai Chipato and John Mabheka are both committee members.
Opportunities
The local business community at Jerera is already savouring the prospects of a boom triggered by the football club’s promotion into Division One.
“If we have a team here in Zaka, it spurs business growth. Business will blossom whenever Zaka Academy FC host a match here at Jerera,” says Sarah Munemo, Zaka business community spokesperson.
“Football is big business and we are saying there should be a link between the game and business so that we can realise the full benefits.
“As businesspeople, we have seen Zaka Academy FC grow and the team is now raring to go.”
The emergence of Zaka Academy FC has tickled ZIFA president Kamambo’s fancy.
In his election manifesto, he preached the need to spread the game to remote areas of the country.
“This development makes my dream come true. I have been saying it; even in my manifesto it was there, that we need to have big teams coming from outside Harare and Bulawayo,” he said.
“As ZIFA we will definitely support this project and I will personally pay them a visit and encourage them. Where we can, we will help them.
“As part of our plans, we want to spread football to all corners of the country. We need to have a team representing Rusape town, or Gutu district, just like in the United Kingdom where we have Leicester City representing the city of Leicester, or Coventry representing the city of Coventry.
“We have a mandate as ZIFA to promote the growth of football and its spread to all parts of the country.”
The excitement levels are indeed high at Jerera, just like the temperatures in the area, aptly nicknamed “Zaka Rinopisa”, which has inevitably become the football club’s moniker.
Perhaps upcoming players like Hilary Jeke, Marshal Chigumbate, Martin Mushayavanhu, Kudakwashe Mabheka and Dimytry Nyajena will soon grow into household football names using this project as a springboard.
