The Sunday News
Seventeen-year-old Zimbabwean boy Blessing Madlela is in Europe on an invitational tour with the Canada-based First Mobile Soccer Academy for their annual European tour which started on 3 July and ends on 3 August where he is playing as a guest player.
FMSA is the home to the trio of striker Phillippe Barriault, central midfielder Beychevel Bamana and goalkeeper Jean-Felix Lemieux that had trial stints at Bulawayo giants Highlanders during the pre-season.
Madlela, a former Mandwandwe High School pupil was invited to play for the Isaac Mbedzi-coached side after he impressed the mentor last year when he spotted him playing for the now defunct New Airport Stars while he (Mbedzi) was tracking another player from the Nguboyenja-based EM Sports.
Madlela was yesterday part of the FMSA team that won the Dana Cup in Denmark where they beat a Germany side Buchen Siebeneichener 1-0 in extra-time.
Mbedzi said the youngster had been with them for more than two weeks and would be in Zimbabwe by Tuesday.
“The youngster has been with us for the past month and he has played a big role in most of our games,” he said, adding that he was ready to continue working with Zimbabwe in these kind of exchange programmes that will afford the youths a chance to market themselves in foreign countries.
“FMSA will continue doing this for as long as we play international showcases. For the young Madlela it might be his opportunity to improve as a player,” said Mbedzi.
The attacking midfielder who had an assist for FMSA in his second game finally got onto the score sheet last Wednesday when he scored an equaliser against a top Danish side in a match that ended 2-2. In total he has played 12 games, assisted one and scored three.
Mbedzi was full of praises for the youngster saying he was destined for greater success in his soccer career.
FMSA boasts of having seen many players going through their ranks and eventually getting College Scholarships in America while others have managed to join teams that play in very competitive leagues around the globe.
