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Mthabisi Tshuma

Ricky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter
BANTU Rovers’ striker, Mthabisi Tshuma has left the country for the United States of America on a soccer scholarship. The 17-year-old Form 5 pupil at Milton High School left on Friday for winter school at Taft School in Watertown, Connecticut State.

Taft School is listed as one of the most expensive boarding schools in the United States.

Tshuma received a seven-year scholarship and will be at Taft for three years before graduating to college where he will study for another four years.

“I’m really looking forward to my stay in America and I’m grateful to Bantu Rovers, who facilitated everything. I’m in America to learn, create relations and lay a foundation for my life. Going abroad is really a dream come true,” Tshuma said.

The Lobengula West born budding soccer star, joined Rovers in 2012.

Tshuma draws his inspiration from former Rovers midfielder Ezra “Era” Siyaduba, who joined Taft in 2013 and has since graduated to college.

“Siyaduba gave me tips on what to expect and I’m up for the challenge. I’ve seen a number of videos of Siyaduba on the Taft website and it seems he has done well here. Actually he has set the bar that I have to work hard to reach. Just like Siyaduba, I want to leave a lasting mark at Taft so that even guys coming after me from Bantu Rovers are given the same respect that I’ll have received because of Siyaduba’s exceptional work.”

Rovers’ general manager, Wilbert Sibanda challenged Tshuma to emulate Siyaduba.

“As Bantu Rovers, we are pleased that through our contacts we managed to get a scholarship for Tshuma, who has since arrived safely at Taft School. It is our hope that he will be able to balance his academic studies with football. It was through Siyaduba’s exemplary work that we managed to get Tshuma this scholarship. We hope he will emulate Siyaduba, who happens to come from Lobengula as well. It is our hope that Tshuma excels in his endeavours and inspires other youngsters to take their studies and sport seriously,” said Sibanda.

Apart from Siyaduba, Rovers have facilitated scholarships for Sean Banda, the son of Bulawayo deputy mayor Gift Banda, Ray Lunga, son of former Highlanders striker Gift Lunga Snr and Sean Moyo.

Banda, a former Zimbabwean representative at the continental junior track championships, last year broke a half-century old Choate Rosemary High School record in the 100 metres during a track event at Taft School. Banda sprinted to the finishing line in a jaw-dropping time of 10.60 seconds, beating the old record by 0.05 seconds.

Moyo, a former Mzilikazi High schoolboy is at Bates College.