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Nigel Munyati

Webster Dzvova Sports Reporter
ACES Youth Soccer Academy have celebrated their 15th anniversary with the building of a new block to accommodate more players as they seek to move a gear up in developing the next generation of the country’s best footballers.

The academy, which has produced some of the nation’s most promising talents like Khama Billiat, Knowledge Musona, Donovan Bernard, Silas Songani, George Chigova, Wisdom Mutasa, Walter Musona and Michelle Katsvairo, want to have as many as 100 young players under their wings at any given time.

Former ZIFA board member Nigel Munyati and Marc Duvillard are the brains behind the Academy.

Munyati said the Waterfalls-based institution have recently refurbished a block where the budding footballers will stay.

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The building is a state-of-the-art boarding facility.

There is a total staff compliment of 17, including the technical team and the Academy administrators.

“We are 15 years old now. When we started, we bought this house and have developed it into what it is today with more rooms for the players,” said Munyati.

“We have had to build this new block to cater for more players.

“Our ideal situation is to have at least about 100 players living here, eating soccer, talking soccer, sleeping soccer and also sending them to school.

“The kids that are taken into the academy have their fees paid for by the academy at schools that we have an arrangement with. We have an arrangement with schools like Lord Malvern and Allan Wilson.

“The national soccer team stars you see today like Knowledge Musona, George Chigova and Khama Billiat, are our products. They all passed through this Academy.

“We have roughly over 100 players playing either abroad, in the PSL or in Division One. We have players at teams like Dynamos, FC Platinum, Bulawayo City, Mutare City Rovers, Tsholotsho and ZPC Kariba to name, but a few.”

Aces also have made a difference in the national teams.

“Of the 25 girls called up for the Rio 2016 Olympics, we have five players including Rufaro Machingura, Daisy Kaitano, Majorie Nyaumwe, Sheila Makoto and Eunice Chibanda,” said Munyati.

“The former national women’s soccer team goalkeeper, Onai Chingawo, is also our product.

“When we started in 2001 this place wasn’t like this. This new block you’re now seeing was built at a cost of about $60 000.

“We don’t have sponsors, but have some friends outside the country. We are trying to have world class facilities at this Academy.

“As you can see, the facility has more space for the players, more showers, bedrooms and a lecture room where we watch some soccer matches together with the players and also teach them.

“This is not the only structure we have as an academy. We also do have a girls academy somewhere here in Harare. We have some land in Harare South where we also want to build a bigger and better project.”

He said their passion was to continue developing young footballers.

“Over 250 kids have come through this academy. Each player spends between four to six years at the academy,” said Munyati.

“Scouts come in and identify the players they want. We also try to find the best placement for them. We are committed to developing young boys and girls.

“We have the passion and commitment. We are also professional in how we operate. We also take a scientific approach in our approach to soccer. Soccer is dynamic and we need to keep abreast of the latest trends in soccer.

“We also do send our players for attachments internationally, like six weeks stints in Switzerland, preparing them for international life so that when they play in front of 60 000 spectators they will not be overawed by the occasion.

“We realised that the future lies in our youth and we had to invest in them whether in arts, sports and the academics.”