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Tadious Manyepo-Sports Reporter

MORE talented local players could see themselves playing in leagues across Europe after the Pro-team, which facilitated Bill Antonio’s move to Belgium, revealed they will be holding scouting tournaments in this country starting from this November.

Antonio moved to Belgian side KV Mechelen a fortnight ago following a successful trial stint with that country’s top-flight side last month. 

He is reported to be adjusting well in the club’s Under-23 team which he has initially been placed for further development. 

The KV Mechelen Under-23 team plays in the fourth tier in Belgium but should Antonio master the team’s philosophy and shows a great deal of development, he will then be seconded into the senior side. 

Reports suggest that the 20-year-old has shown a lot of potential and he could open avenues for more Zimbabwean players to join the bandwagon.

And the agency, which arranged for his switch to Belgium, has revealed they will be using their close ties with Prince Edward Academy to scout for more players. 

The team consists of Valeer Billen, an experienced coach who has worked with top-flight teams in Cote d’Ivoire and eSwatini as well as KV Mechelen, Pia Jefferson, who is Antonio’s personal agent, and Gino Laureysen, a Belgian agent and football consultant. 

It is this team which has close links not only with KV Mechelen but with several other clubs across Europe. 

It is also this team which has close ties with Prince Edward Academy from where they recruited Antonio.

And through, Laureysen, the Pro-team told The Herald all teams in Zimbabwe are welcome to help, through PE Academy, take local players for the European market. 

“We are looking forward to Bill playing for the first team as soon as he settles and proves himself in the Under-23 side of Premiership club KV Mechelen of Belgium. 

“We are willing to work with any club in Zimbabwe who will develop our players from PE Academy, the academy with whom we have a relationship with. We shall work closely with the coaches and will be spending more time in Zimbabwe working with the coaches and the players,” he said.

“The Pro-team have strong links with PE Academy and will be working with the academy to develop players for more Premiership clubs in Zimbabwe and other African countries. 

“We intend to hold a scouting tournament in collaboration with Pathius Mauto of PE Academy at the end of November. In fact, under their structure, coach Valeer Billen will consult for PE Academy and will help the PE coaches in developing players for the European markets. PE Academy will receive more training equipment to consolidate the equipment they received two years ago.’’ 

Gino revealed that they have no exclusive relationship with any particular club in the country, including Dynamos. 

“There is no special relationship with any club in Zimbabwe. KV Mechelen appoints me to see what’s happening in Zimbabwe and look for certain relationships with teams. So all teams are welcome to work with players from the PE Academy. 

“Pia (Jefferson) has been in the ground in Africa and we have established relationships with academies and other clubs in Africa, including South Africa’s Cape Town Spurs,” said Gino. 

“Our main focus is to work with PE Academy in Zimbabwe and use the academy to channel top players like Bill abroad. 

“We have set up high quality accommodation in Borrowdale where international scouts can stay.”