The Sunday News
Nkosilathi Sibanda
THE growing trend of setting up junior football academies the world over has taught young players that not making the first team should no longer be seen as failure, but instead a different pathway into another club.
No doubt, football academies are a growing trend in youth development and more clubs are becoming successful soccer schools.
This is what OT Lions Academy in the coal mining town of Hwange aims for. The academy is a creation of sport benefactor Ozwin Taruwinga.
Unique in its nature, as a first in Matabeleland north’s football history, the academy is a pacesetter in talent identification.
Being home to players under the age 18, the academy poses to be the sought after football school.
At a time when local teams are spending money on old, tried and often tired players, OT Lions Academy’s pool of teenage talent could be the panacea to those clubs that have no idea where and how to build junior academies.
What distinguishes this academy from the rest is that it has become a different kind of enterprise — a talent factory in the heart of Hwange.
“The goal is not just to assemble players and teach them football basics, but to mould and make them play football that attracts investment,” Taruwinga said.
He said the young players, during their stint at the academy have an opportunity to be sold, often for immense fees, locally and on the world market. Of which this is every player’s dream.
Everything about the academy, from the amenities to the pedigree of the coach, Weekly Mwale, signifies quality.
Mwale is a veteran gaffer having had successful stints with as many clubs including the Young Warriors’ Under 17 squad, Hwange football club, Hwange Ladies and Technosphere FC.
Within that framework is Taruwinga’s ambition to make the academy — the first of its kind in Matabeleland north — one of the best and most successful in Zimbabwe.
“The aim to help market the young players into big club locally and elsewhere. At OT Lions Academy we want to be a feeder to the big leagues. By grooming the boys, we also give them an environment that teaches them how to be a professional player.
“Most of the players at the academy have been training together, as a unit, since December 2016. Under the watchful eye of Weekly Mwale the coach. The boys have to listen to what he says and go places. Mwale’s mentorship is unmatched. I see each player going places and bringing results in their respective teams,” said Taruwinga.
Taruwinga is no stranger to youth development in sport. He is credited in setting up the pulsating former Zifa Division One outfit Technosphere FC, a team that narrowly lost a berth to the Premiership in 2014. He is credited with giving space to respected coach Try Ncube at Technosphere and also grooming Bulawayo City’s last signings Fortune “SaThutshu” Nkomazana, Stanford Chavingira.
On realising that there is a huge benefit in establishing a juniors’ academy, Taruwinga was to shift focus and direct both his time and money to future stars.
Taruwinga knew less that he was toward a path to help the talented youngsters of Hwange. It dawned on him that there is better reward in investing in young talented players. By forming OT Lions Academy, he began what is to become the theatre of dreams.
Now, his project has transformed Hwange into a footballing powerhouse, as the town was known for, in its glory days.
“I have been in Hwange for more than 25 years and I have noticed that young, talented players need support and exposure.
After having handling affairs at Technosphere, I decided it was time to redirect resources to the young boys and brighten their future. The formation of OT Lions Academy came as a result of a well calculated thought, one that has youth in mind.
“Without junior sport investment, our football is dead. This is why I want to be heavily involved with juniors. They are the future. When the boys play, there are joyful, they enjoy it and give inspiration to others and the Hwange community at large.
For any coach looking for talent, I advise them to visit Hwange and spend time at OT Lions Academy,” Taruwinga said.
With the increasing globalisation of football, the sport which has driven the best players to richer leagues, the formation of OT Lions Academy is one sport institute ready to open doors for players in remote areas who dream of playing in Premier League and the elite, money-spinning leagues of England, Germany, Italy and Spain.
“These players are under the age of 18, meaning that they have huge prospects of going to that big team at the PSL or abroad. It is an opportunity that every youngster should aspire for,” said Taruwinga, who once played rugby and soccer at high school.
Taruwinga said since its launch last December, the academy has hooked interest across the country as team scouts and managers come to seek all modern ideas on how to develop youngsters from the sport school.
Recently a group of coaches from the US visited OT Lions Academy with the intension of scouting talent. Indeed they left amazed and ready to sign contracts.
“If reputable coaches all the way from America come here and approve of our players it shows that we are headed the right way.”
Taruwinga added that his academy not only grooms players from Hwange, but is also in search of talent from other parts of the country.
“We are not closing our doors. Every youngster in Zimbabwe is welcome to come to OT Lions Academy. I have realised that there is an abundance of talent in areas that are remote from big cities that is why I would want our coaches to travel and look for that rare and untapped talent.”
The sport benefactor did not mince his words in explaining the hurdle that comes with funding sport from one’s pocket.
He wants other businesses, individuals with financial and football skills muscle to partner him in this worthy cause.
On a visit to Hwange last week, it was observed that everyday OT Lions Academy’s players are sharpened at Hwange’s famous Number One old ground. The pitch was once home to Hwange’s football legends and is now the cauldron of future stars.
On watching Mwale taking the youngsters through a skills drill, one easily understands why iron sharpens iron.
Mwale is assisted by his son Leon. Both are respected in curving junior football in Hwange and are tagged as coaches with creative soul, whose expertise in football is unique. They come out as gaffers who know how to put scant resources to best use.
@NkosieLegend
