The Sunday News
Ngqwele Dube, Sports Correspondent
MENTION Desert Stadium to any Bulawayo football fanatic and most will recall the fond memories when the ground became a hit with the Horsepower off-season tournaments graced by then elite footballers.
Organised by Madodana “Horsepower” Tshabangu in the late 90s to early 2000s, the tournaments brought football fans to Njube as they watched top flight players slug it out.
However, with realisation of the dangers posed by such off-season football it ended up losing its allure.
Desert has remained synonymous with local football in Bulawayo and has become a breeding ground for players from Njube that have gone on to shine in the top flight.
The suburb has produced its fair share of top flight footballers dating back to the 70s when Peter Gumbo, the father of respected football siblings, Jimmy, Charles, Rahman, Norman and Nkosana, co-founded Njube United.
Njube has produced gifted players like Ernest ‘‘Maphepha’’ Sibanda, the late Zimbabwe Saints great, Joshua Mhizha, Joseph ‘‘Skippy’’ Ngwenya, Danisa Phiri, Goodson Gama, Arum Tshuma, Tendai Ndlovu and most recently Aston Villa midfielder, Marvelous Nakamba.
Nakamba cut his teeth at Helemu Primary School before moving to Njube High School where he worked closely with coach, John Mabaisa, who now heads Njube Spurs’ technical department.
Spurs is the latest to spring out of Njube suburb where now defunct former Premier Soccer League side, Njube Sundowns also emerged from.
Formed in 2017, the club has set its sights on producing and attracting quality emerging talent from within Njube and surrounding suburbs.
Created out of a passion to develop football within the community, the side draws inspiration from Nakamba and believes are focused on unearthing more gems.
The team has been invited to take part in the Marvelous Nakamba Foundation under-17 Youth Invitation Tournament and on Friday were drawn to take on giants, Highlanders and Dynamos in the group stages.
Spurs are unperturbed about having to face the big names in local football with coach, John Mabaisa saying the boys will be out to enjoy themselves at the competition scheduled for this weekend.
“Of course, when you hear you are playing against the top teams you get a little trepidation but I will tell them to enjoy their game. We won’t be under any pressure,” he said.
Communications director, Dalubuhle Sithole said they are excited about the opportunity they were given through being selected to take part in the tourney.
“We appreciate the opportunity availed to us by the organisers of the tournament. It is a chance for the boys to showcase their talents and play amongst the biggest teams in the country.
“The boys are excited, ready and raring to go. It’s one of those stages where they would want to feature regularly,” he said.
Spurs chairperson, Trust “Kofi” Chizunza said they are not just forming another team to make up numbers in the junior ranks but are focused on grooming quality players.
He said they have come up with a long-term plan that will see them creating linkages with teams outside the country to enhance opportunities for the players to move.
Njube Spurs Antony Nakamba with Trust Kofi Chuzunza during the MNF launch on Friday
Chizunza said international youth tournaments provide ample chances of being scouted.
“We are making a deliberate approach to seek out youth tournaments where we can feature. We know it won’t be an easy thing but our term are long plans and believe with focus we can make it.
“It is an investment we are making and would want to be able to reap in the future as we move players abroad,” he said.
“We are recruiting players at under 10 to ensure they have more time on the pitch and ball during the formative years then we have the under 13, under 15 and under 17 side playing in the Zifa Bulawayo Province Serie B league and an Under-20 team playing in Division 3.
Sithole said their motivation was beyond just having a football team but assisting in community development and grooming well-rounded citizens.
He said they are paying school fees for 20 of their players at both primary and secondary school level.
“Yes, we are based in Njube and using Desert as our home ground but we welcome players from around these suburbs.
“Beyond developing football in the community, we are paying school fees for some of our players who come from vulnerable families while finding way to reduce crime and drug abuse.
“We also have career guidance sessions for both the sporting and academics spheres. Our vision is to enhance community development through football,” said Sithole.
Other community members playing a role managing the club include Innocent Ndlovu, Nomsa Dhlodhlo, Thando Mlotshwa, Nick Carter Ncube, Welcome Nkomo, Bruce Ngangezwe Khumalo, Nokuthula Sibanda and Kudzi Macheka.
