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TEENAGE WARRIORS . . . Chamu Musanhu (standing, third from left) and his Team Zimbabwe UK Under-17 side, which the former Dynamos defender believes have a number of gems who could ultimately play for the Warriors

Collin Matiza Sports Editor
FORMER Zimbabwe international defender Chamu Musanhu, with the help of his colleagues in England, has embarked on an ambitious project to identify talented young UK-based players who have links with this country with the aim of grooming them for the Warriors.

Musanhu, who is now based in Liverpool, England, has already put in place an Under-17 “Zimbabwe Team” currently competing in the 2016 African Nations Cup-UK Under-17 youth tournament, where they have reached the semi-finals in which they will play Nigeria this weekend.

Team Zimbabwe UK have, for the first time since their formation, entered a junior team in the African Cup of Nations UK tournament.

The aim of the project is to provide a platform for any talented young footballer of Zimbabwean descent to showcase their talent.

And according to the official website of Team Zimbabwe UK, they aim, through their partnership with the National Football Association of Zimbabwe, to provide a pathway to allow those talented enough to get a chance to train and play for the Young Warriors and, eventually, the Warriors.

The project is being headed by Trevor Mazhande, an FA and UEFA B qualified coach, who has vast experience working in junior football within the United Kingdom and is currently attached to English Premiership soccer side West Brom as their Under-16 coach.

Mazhande will work alongside former Zimbabwe football internationals, Musanhu and Kennedy Chihuri.

Chihuri played 200 matches in the Czech Gambrinus Liga for FK Viktoria Žižkov.

He was the first black player in the Czech League and went on to make 30 appearances for the Zimbabwe national football team.

The trio will also work with Martin Chirimuuta and Brian Ndlovu, who are both FA qualified and heavily involved in youth football.

“I just want to let you know that the Zimbabwe Under-17 team here in the UK managed to get to the semi-finals of the African Nations Cup Youth (UK) tournament,” said Musanhu.

“The tournament started last Saturday and in our group. We first played Angola and we won 1-0 and then we played Somalia and we won 8-4. At one time we were 2-3 down before half-time but we managed to score six goals in the second half.

“We finished top of our group and now we are going to meet Nigeria, who topped their group, in the semi-finals this coming weekend.

“Last year, the final of the same tournament was played at Upton Park (the former home ground of English Premiership side West Ham).

“We will know this coming Thursday (tomorrow), where the final of this year’s tournament will be played. There’s huge, huge potential (of young Zimbabwean players) in the UK. Some of the lads who played for us at the weekend, although it was an Under-17 tournament, can even play in the Under-23 team of Zimbabwe or even in the senior national team, the Warriors.”

He said even the Nigerians were looking for their talent in the Diaspora.

“I think we need to spread our wings all over the world (because) I think there’s a lot of potential out there and if we can collaborate with everyone, then Zimbabwean football will have a great future,” said Musanhu.

“I’m the one who is coaching the team and I’ve got (former Warriors midfielder) Kennedy Chihuri as the technical advisor and Trevor Mazhande as team manager.

“Mazhande also works as the Under-16 coach at (English Premiership side) West Brom. So, this is my technical department.

“Everything is promising and we are looking forward to playing Nigeria in the semi-finals this coming weekend and hopefully we will beat them and reach the final.

“I just want ZIFA (National Football Association of Zimbabwe) to know that there’s talent here in the UK and we need someone (from Zimbabwe), who will be working or linking us with (NAFAZ) so that they know what is happening here.

“I also think it will be better to bring these (UK-based) kids to play with their peers in Zimbabwe so that we can come up with a very strong squad, which will represent the country in major international tournaments such as the African Cup of Nations, Olympic Games and then the World Cup.

“We need to get these youngsters, who are based here in the UK, to come and play for the Young Warriors or the Warriors.

“The Nigerians have been doing it for the past 10 years and it is slowly bearing some fruits for them, especially at junior level where they are currently the World Under-17 champions.”

He said 20 countries were involved in this year’s African Cup of Nations (UK) Under-17 youth tournament and these include young UK-based players from Morocco, Zanzibar, Zambia, Uganda, South Africa, Somalia, Sierra Leone, Senegal, Sao Tome and Principe, Tanzania, Nigeria, Kenya, Ivory Coast, Guinea Bissau, Ghana, Ethiopia, DR Congo, Cameroon, Angola and Zimbabwe.

Team Zimbabwe UK Under-17 Squad

Goalkeeper: Simba Mdianyama

Defenders: Jerrold Matsa, Wayne Ndlovu, Muss Stamburi, Sheldon Mudzidziwa, Pro Ncube, Frederick Malunga

Midfielders: Seth Patrick, Tanaka Katsukunya, Tatenda Maramba, Tyrone Sibanda, Takunda Mushambi, Prince Banda, Arnold Ndiweni, Kenny Tafireyi

Strikers: Kuda Mdianyama, Panashe Robert, Martin Zulu, Ryan Makwenje, Bestone Matabile, Sharma Bako, Munashe Chirera, Shekinnah Chipfatsure