GWERU – The Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) board member responsible for infrastructural development, Brighton ‘Pan Jap’ Ushendibaba, last week donated a variety of sports kits to his former school, Matinunura High School in Gweru.
Known for his generosity, particularly in football, Pan Jap has long been a helping hand to many, especially former players.
His latest donation included apparel for various sporting disciplines, including netball and volleyball.
The donation which is set to go a long way for Matinunura High School, further shows Ushendibaba’s commitment of giving back to the community.
Last year, Pan Jap donated a bus to Chitsa Primary School to facilitate easier travel for its football teams.
The gesture further reveals the Harare businessman’s commitment to sports development at grassroots level.
Football development was a cornerstone of Pan Jap’s campaign before he was elected into office on the 25th of January.
Speaking during one of his campaign addresses, Pan Jap said: “Football development, particularly in rural areas, is one area that must be seriously prioritised if we are to nurture talent.
“I grew up in the rural areas, saw firsthand the potential there. The challenge is that these children lack exposure and opportunities. They need to be scouted.”
Now in office, Ushendibaba is working on improving the country’s football infrastructure which is under his portfolio.
However, as he works on that, Pan Jap insists his passion is to bridge the gap between urban and rural football.
He wants to see his vision of inclusivity and sustainability in football development across Zimbabwe come true.
