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NDUMISO GUMEDE

Ngqabutho Moyo Sports Reporter
BULAWAYO football giants Highlanders yesterday adopted Robert Tredgold Primary School for their youth development after partnering with the Organisation of Rural Associations for Progress (Orap)who donated 100 indestructible balls to the institution.Speaking at the school yesterday, Highlanders chief executive officer Ndumiso Gumede said their development project would complement the Bulawayo Junior Football League.

Highlanders, known for having a vibrant junior policy, will under their new initiative assign junior coaches to mentor talent at the school working hand in glove with some teachers.

“We have adopted this school so that we can develop and nurture junior players from grassroots level because it is at primary school age that the children grasp football techniques. We are grateful to Orap for supporting football development and other primary schools are welcome to approach us because Highlanders yithimu yezwelonke,” said Gumede.

At the launch of the programme, it was revealed that Highlanders’ junior coaches headed by Bosso’s head of development Dumaza Dube, Gift Lunga (Junior) and Melusi Sibanda would every Wednesday conduct afternoon training sessions at Robert Tredgold.

The coaches will teach the children football basics like heading, trapping, dribbling, passing, controlling and turning.

Njabulo Bango from the National Association of Primary School Heads (Naph) said, “This is a very positive development which is in line with our goals as Naph and we are going to work hand in hand in supporting them to continue with youth development initiatives.”

Zifa vice-president Omega Sibanda and Orap representatives were some of the dignitaries who attended the launch.