HARARE – Recently appointed Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) Technical Director (TD) Jethro ‘Chemie’ Hunidzarira has urged FC Wangu Mazodze owner to prioritize starting an academy for talent development over team expansion.
The club is named after its US-based founder and businessman Richard Wangu Mazodze, who owns Zhalala Zhululu Tours, a passenger transport operation based in Mutare.
Hunidzarira’s suggestion comes after the Masvingo-based club, which narrowly missed top-flight promotion last year, established a second team in the Central Region aiming to secure a ticket to the top flight league quicker.
“If I could speak directly to FC Wangu Mazodze owner, I would advise him to concentrate on the existing team, disband the newly formed one and invest in building a strong academy.
“Within a few years, he will be selling players. I believe this is an investment and less costly as compared to running two teams in the Division One league.
“This will also help us (ZIFA) because the money he spends on each team, if he says to himself, guys come and help me set up a centre of excellence, it will benefit him, kids in that area and the entire football ecosystem.
“The money he spends on senior players will be enough to set up an academy,” he said.
The Zimbabwe Saints legends said this on the sidelines of his unveiling as the new ZIFA Technical Director on Tuesday afternoon.
Chemie, emphasised that academies are a valuable investment, indicating they will try to convince those who are capacitated like the Herentals owner Innocent Benza to focus more on them.
