PATRICK MUBWANDARIKWA
Sports Writer
GG GRASSROOTS Academy say they are not obsessed with winning the division two title as their focus remains on producing talent for Zimbabwean football.
This comes as football benefactor Pedzai Sakupwanya recently said he would give the George Guvamatanga-owned soccer academy US$100 000 if they get promoted to division one.
“Our primary focus remains on talent identification, development and nurturing discipline through sport, while maintaining a competitive edge in the leagues we participate in.
“Should promotion to a higher league come as a result of our performances, we will certainly welcome it, but our core objective remains long-term player development rather than short-term results.
“We remain firmly anchored in our vision of promoting football development among young boys in our communities by providing them with opportunities to express their talent and use football as a vehicle to positively transform their lives and those who look up to them,” Tinashe Mukanda, GG Grassroots’ external relations manager told the Daily News on Sunday.
With over 120 players under its book, Mukanda said they are “hugely satisfied with the impact the club has made since its formation in 2018”.
The club is one of 40 teams in the Zifa Harare province division two league – which is split into two tiers known as 2A and 2B. Last season they finished second behind Highrange who went on to defeat division 2B winners Scottland Academy in the promotion playoffs to make it into the Northern Region Soccer League.
“As a development-focused institution, we take great pride in seeing our players progress to higher levels of the game,” Mukanda said.
“To date, two of our players joined N’ombeyaora (now Hunters FC) last year, while one player is currently with Black Rhinos. We also have one former player now based in the United States of America pursuing football opportunities there,” he said.
On Sakupwanya’s pledge, Mukanda said: “It is a welcome gesture from someone who clearly believes in the vision and developmental philosophy of our patron and the academy.
“Support of this nature naturally boosts the confidence and morale of both our players and technical staff, motivating them to maximise their potential and aim for higher achievements,” he told this publication.
“We also share a long-standing relationship with Scottland FC built on mutual respect, and we hope this gesture can further strengthen that relationship. We certainly remain open to continued collaboration and support that advances youth football development,” Mukanda said.
On his part, the Scottland owner said: “I have come a long way with your patron (Guvamatanga) and we are together on this football journey. So whatever we have, we share and as it stands, we are building a stadium in Ruwa which we shall be sharing.
“You finished second last season, so you know what you are doing. But this year we no longer want number two. We now want number one. So if you finish in first position, I will give you US$100 000,” Sakupwanya said.
GG Grassroots currently runs teams in the under nine, 11, under-13, 15, under-17 and 20 age groups. It is the under-20 team that came second in the Harare Provincial Soccer League Division 2A.
“We have approximately 120 players under our development structure, with plans to grow this number to 150 this year as we introduce a girls’ development programme targeting at least 30 participants,” said Mukanda, who says the club taps talent from a feeder network that mainly stretches from Harare’s Kambuzuma, Glen View, Dzivarasekwa, Glen Norah and Chitungwiza townships.
“Additionally, we currently have a promising Under-17 player who has attracted interest from both Scottland FC and Chicken Inn, which reflects the growing recognition of the talent being nurtured at GG Grassroots.”