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Ellina Mhlanga Sports Reporter
BN Academy director Bhekimpilo Nyoni says their recent participation at a development camp at the Football CV Academy in the United Kingdom gave the players an insight into how much work one needs to put in to turn professional.

Nyoni travelled with a number of players from his academy for the five-day training camp.
“Overall the coaches that were working with the players complimented the work our coaches are doing because there is evidence the boys are technically good.

“The experience the boys got, the experience I got myself, it’s really something to me, which is very important.
“As much as we want our players to break through, it’s not as easy as we believe, there is real competition out there,” said Nyoni.

The camp attracted players from several countries such as Australia, France, UK, Ghana, Nigeria, Uganda, Kenya, South Korea, Italy and Zimbabwe.

“There were 44 players all in all who came. So I was impressed with our boys. Of the 11 boys that I took there, 10 of them were outstanding.

“I think only one player struggled. But the other 10 were outstanding, especially Elson Mweha from Guinea Fowl.
“Munashe Chakuchichi was voted the Players’ Player of the Camp. So, according to that, that was really great taking into account that some of the players were already in camp when we got there.

“We were there for a week, but he ended up impressing everyone.
“There were some scouts that came from Southampton, Leicester and Birmingham, who looked at the players and they talked highly of the quality of the player, which encouraged me to continue with the work we are doing,” Nyoni said.

Mweha and Chakuchichi also made an impression during the visit by Football CV Academy’s coach, Grant Brown, for a week-long training clinic with BN Academy as part of an exchange programme in April.
Grant picked the two players to attend the camp and had their expenses for the trip paid for.

“It’s building on their CVs. It’s easier for us to say they have high chances of being marketed because their profiles are growing,” said Nyoni.

The BN Academy director said although it was a learning experience, he realised they were not far behind their counterparts.