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Tadious Manyepo, Harare Bureau
LOCAL football stakeholders have hailed Harare-based Galaxy Football Academy after their Under-12 team charmed spectators in the Zambia Independence Day junior tournament in Lusaka last week.

The event was held as part of the celebrations to commemorate that country’s Independence anniversary last Wednesday.

And the Galaxy academy Under-12 team was invited to be part of the 10 teams which participated including one from the United States.

They were enlisted by the Zambians after conquering in all the local tournaments they played this year.

Galaxy reportedly turned on some polished displays in Lusaka, charming even neutrals in an event they bowed out in the semi-finals.

The performances were too good to ignore for other Zambian academies which have since invited the team to take part in their own tournaments.

Harare City chairman, Alois Masepe, a proponent for junior development, said it was good to have academies participating in such high-profile tournaments as it helps expose the young players to more competitive environment.

“It’s quiet commendable to have a team of Under-12 kids go outside the country and become exposed at such an age. Those individuals deserve to be respected, they are playing a key role in junior development which is what the country needs at the moment.” said Masepe.

“We have always been saying, players need to be developed from a tender age. This is the stage when they can quiet master the technical aspects of the game whilst progressively develop to become the stars we want to watch at the stadiums. It is very encouraging to see academies sending their teams outside the country.

“The reason why other countries are now performing better than what they used to do in the past is that they have invested a lot in junior development.

“Grassroots soccer development is what we should all be thriving for. If we play our part in nurturing talent, then our future will be bright as a country. What this academy did is an example of what we need as a country in terms of development,” Masepe said.

CAPS United legend, Alois Bunjira who was developed in an academy in Chitungwiza hailed the team.

“Some of us grew up in such academies with such vision. We would like to see more efforts from such passionate clubs so that our country’s future football stars are well nurtured.

“Actually the soccer mother body, ZIFA should push for development. We should see more of these. This develops interests within the kids and this is the stage when they should start preparing for professional careers.”

Galaxy also won two individual awards at the tournament with Courtney Tsamba walking away with the player of the tournament award whilst Mudiwa Gurupira was the most disciplined player.

Their coach Fungai Kumwaza expressed satisfaction with their tour of duty.

“As Galaxy Football Academy we really feel proud and honored but to be honest words cannot express how we feel. The positives are so many more than the challenges.

“We won two individual awards, Courtney (Tsamba) won player of the tournament while Mudiwa (Gurupira) won the most disciplined player of the tournament.”

Meanwhile ZIFA have hailed teachers after they formed the Zimbabwe Teachers Sports Association as they bid to develop grassroots sport.

ZIFA technical director Wilson Mtekede welcomed the development and said it will open more windows in terms of grassroots sport development.

“Teachers play a major role in the development of grassroots sport. They are all coaches and referees by default and they need to be capacitated and I think what they have done is what is needed for them to be empowered,’’ said Mtekede.

The association’s founding president, Tapiwa Ndewere said it will be easy for the members to organize coaching clinics at a central place rather have teachers travel long distances for a two-day training.