Lovemore Dube
His products are too visible not to notice in the Bulawayo Junior Football League and the footprint has been felt far beyond Africa’s borders. Even Highlanders’ newfound darling Mvelo Khoza came through his football factory.
Musa Mguni who played in Europe and Asia is among his products.Tafadzwa Dliwayo whose net value on the transfer market is US$450 000 at Dibba in Dubai where he plies his trade is his former junior player.
Ntokozo Tshuma who played for Portland Timbers in the MLS in the United States is in that impressive list of stars he coached and Warriors’ Kudakwashe Mahachi, Honest Moyo, Vusa Nyoni, Obidiah Tarumbwa, Mkhokheli Dube to mention a few are just among the names Chimimba coached at some stage.
Judging from his tone in the Thursday evening interview, Chimimba of Real Stars Academy of Makokoba is a selfless man.
He is happy allowing the underprivileged to shine in football. He is in search of the next big name from Bulawayo and Zimbabwe to throw to the world.He does not care whether that is achieved with better resources or the bare minimum and will not charge at his academy for children to be coached.
All he wants is for kids to access better opportunities in the future through his patient approach at Real Stars Academy at the 11 Street pitch in Makokoba.It is no ordinary football ground.
Legends that include Netsai Moyo, Peter Ndlovu, his late brother Adam, Madinda, the late Nkululeko Dlodlo, Makheyi Nyathi (deceased), Thabani Moyo, Zenzo Moyo, Gift Lunga (Senior), Simba Rusike and the late towering Tongogara centre-back Todd Nyadzira all went through 11 Street in their football grooming in the juniors.
At every given turn of spare time, Chimimba is found coaching boys as young as six to 17 at the pitch just before Mazai River in Makokoba. At times resources including human figures seem evidently stretched by the overwhelming numbers of children from Makokoba, Mzilikazi, Thorngrove, City Centre and Nguboyenja, who all want to be filled like empty vessels with football techniques and tactics.
Soft-spoken and committed to Real Stars and the future of the next generation of stars, Chimimba goes on with his business with one aim, to produce stars.
Asked if he is sustaining the project with funds from development fees paid by professional clubs, Chimimba said: “Not yet received anything, many of our players are at Premier clubs, we want to develop players to be known, if we demand money, it will be difficult, we do not want to make it hard for our players. Where they go, if they make a name, we then engage the team and demand development fees when the boy has made a name.
To survive we go to parents and the community and ask for help,” said Chimimba.Chimimba said often those from poor families cannot afford to pay and hence his academy is the alternative. He has made a passionate appeal for soccer balls, ladders, nets and money for transport for the players and fellow volunteer coaches.
“It is for the love of the game, and passion to start from scratch and work through to create a good player. It gives a lot of satisfaction to see what you worked with climbing the football ladder,” said Chimimba.He said at the right time, money will come to his academy and things will be better.
Two stars with Makokoba roots, Teenage Hadebe and Noel Kaseke are part of the project, so are locals, Brighton Khumalo, Antony Dliwayo, Macgregor Sibanda, and very supportive parent, Gilbert Ncube.
Highlanders’ teenage sensation Mvelo Khoza also came through Real Stars before he got his Division One break at Ajax last year.
“He was a good player, a utility player, at times I played him as a central defender, right-back or right wing when I wanted us to attack and get goals,” said Chimimba.Born in Bulawayo on 3 July 1971, Chimimba attended Ross Camp Primary School and Sobukhazi High School.
He played football as a centre-back and was at Gold Star juniors before playing for Ross Camp under Riot Ncube who made him his assistant in the juniors set up while still in his early 20s and he has never looked back at has been to Amavevane, Stops Camp, Highlanders Juniors and Indlovu Iyanyathela.
Below are some of the players Chimimba has worked with: Takunda Mutanga, Bhekimpilo Ncube, Farai Sibanda, Ngqabutho Mgayo, Tawanda Chikore, Abel Sebele, Joel Ngodzo, Stanford Ncube, Robert Kuyankani, Mkhokheli Dube, Arthur Musiwa, Honest Moyo, Guide Goddard, Erick Mudzingwa, Kudzanai Machazane, Ray Lunga, Peter Moyo, Thomas Musekiwa, Obadiah Tarumbwa, Matriples Muleya, Chakufa Gondwe, Bekezela Mpofu, Mgcini Mhlophe, Mandala Moyo, Andile Tshuma, Ricaldo Sibanda, Nqobile Ndlovu, Vusa Nyoni, Tendai Magaisa, Graham Ncube, Patrick Mpofu, Liberty Chirava, Heritain Masuku, Ocean Mpofu, Kundishora Chakanyuka, Innocent Ncube, Desire Bafana, Kudakwashe Mahachi, Nkosi Dube, Toto Banda, Karel Jawa who had a trial in the Emirates recently, Pride Zendera and Mkuli Chilumbiyo.
