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Ellina Mhlanga Sports Reporter
FORMER Warriors coach Callisto Pasuwa has welcomed the launch of the Shield-Chelsea campaign, an innovative football talent search programme that will see 30 players vying for a ticket into the Africa XI squad to face Chelsea Legends in September.

The players will go through trials under the watchful eyes of local coaches and a team of Chelsea scouts that will visit the country in a few months’ time for the final selection.

The campaign is a result of a partnership between Shield, a Unilever brand, and English champions Chelsea and it was unveiled yesterday at Harare’s five-star Meikles hotel.

It is targeting both male and female players between the age of 18 and 25, who are not attached to any professional league.

Shield are offering a-once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for one lucky person to spend a day training with Chelsea coaches at the team’s training ground in London “to see what it takes to play like a champion”.

The selected talented player will be part of the Shield Africa team and participate in a play-off match with the Chelsea Legends in September.

The 30 players will be selected from a pool of applicants who would enter the competition by purchasing any Shield product and send their bar-code.

The final 30 players will go for a boot camp from July 28 to 30 in Harare under the guidance of the local coaches awaiting the arrival of their Chelsea counterparts on July 30 to choose the winning player.

Pasuwa is one of the four local coaches involved in the selection process.

“I would say maybe it’s not only those players playing in the Premier League who have got the talent. There is also talent in the rural areas, there is also talent in some remote areas where one cannot get the chance of coming to play for Dynamos, to play for FC Platinum and these Premier League sides.

“So we are saying we need everyone to come and showcase themselves so that they can be chosen among those who are going to be selected.

“It’s not only (about) one player who is going to be chosen to go and play in England but we are also saying maybe of the 30 players there is 29 who will be left and we are going to service the physical fitness elements of football in them.

“And I think they will gain something from the experienced coaches we have in our group,” said Pasuwa.

The other coaches are former Highlanders goalkeepers coach Cosmas “Tsano” Zulu, former Dynamos midfielder Naison Muchekela and ex-Warriors and CAPS United striker Alois Bunjira. Bunjira said this could be the launch pad for some players to kick-start their careers.

“I think it’s actually a big experience for the players. You might not be selected to be the one player that goes but it’s a big experience to hang around, it actually gives you more motivation, much more motivation to actually go forward.

“To be among the 30 should tell you that you are talented enough, so it’s a talent that you have got that you need to cultivate.’’

Unilever managing director, Hilary Muzondiwa, urged aspiring footballers to grab the opportunity and showcase their talent.

“This campaign is calling on football players in our country to come forward and showcase their talent. The best player will be selected to represent Zimbabwe in an Africa 11 team along with players from nine other Africa countries.

“Our African team will feel what it is like to be a hero, it is my hope this campaign will shape the way into their soccer careers,” said Muzondiwa.

In a speech read on his behalf by the director in the Ministry of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation, Eugenia Chidhakwa, Minister Kazembe Kazembe said this was a positive development for local sport.

“As a ministry mandated to preside over sport and recreation in the country it is our strong belief that sport does not operate as an enclave but prospers through external support structures and linkages.

“In that regard, the involvement of Unilever, through the Shield brand opens floodgates for more investment in sport by the business community and, more so, assist in opening the much needed links with prospering leagues such as the English Premiership,” said Kazembe.

Yesterday’s function was graced by ZIFA vice-president Omega Sibanda, chief executive Joseph Mamutse, Sport Commission acting director-general Joseph Muchechetere, PSL chief executive Kenny Ndebele, Harare City coach Mark Harrison and former Mighty Warriors coach Rosemary Mugadza, ex-Zimbabwe international Edward Sadomba and former Black Rhinos coach Stanford “Stix” Mtizwa.