The Sunday News
Mehluli Sibanda Senior Sports Reporter
A United Kingdom-based teacher Dumisani Ndlovu aims to develop talented football players by offering them all kind of support they need. Through the recently initiated Dumisani Ndlovu Foundation, a charity initiative, Ndlovu who has been in England since 2000 is already supporting four gifted youngsters with school fees at Mtshabezi, Milton, Entumbane and Gifford. The four were identified by their teachers basing on their football skills. Another 20 lads have been singled out, five from each of the four schools who are going to be given soccer training as well as life skills.
The foundation came into fruition in December last year after a meeting with headmasters of Gifford, Mtshabezi, Milton and Entumbane.
Last term, Ndlovu sponsored a four-team league for the four schools which saw them play each other on a home and away basis at Under-15 level. He covered the transport as well as paying for the match officials. On 1 August this year when the foundation was officially launched at Mtshabezi, the four schools got to play each other in the finals. Gifford beat Mtshabezi 4-1 on penalties in the final while Entumbane conquered Milton 2-1 in a third place play-off.
On the day, all the four teams received kits brought by Ndlovu from England. He disclosed that he secured the kits from a UK-based charity Kits4causes which collects and distributes donated kits. He brought 10 kits with some of them being handed over to a Gweru councillor and the Bulawayo Christian League.
“All I want is to make a difference in these youngster’s lives through sport, we are looking at coming up with an academy, we are still consulting those with knowledge on such things. For now we will provide the youngsters with everything that they need to play football, in December when I come back to Zimbabwe we are looking at the 20 players we have identified, playing a match against an academy side. For me it is not about making money, it is about giving back to the same community that nurtured me,’’ said Ndlovu.
The 42-year-old University of Zimbabwe trained English teacher taught at Entumbane for four years having learnt at Gifford and Mtshabezi.
His foundation is registered in England for now but has Arthur Mpuli and Gibson Mpala as volunteers in Zimbabwe. Ndlovu, who left the country for UK yesterday, disclosed that he was looking at registering the foundation in Zimbabwe.
