ONE of the country's top football development institutions Jadel Football Academy are on cloud nine after their Under-11 side won the 100 Cup tournament in Beijing, China last week.
The victorious team arrived back in the country on Friday and Jadel held a welcome press conference for the lads at Rufaro Stadium on the day.
Apart from winning the championship, Jadel Football Academy were voted the best managed side accolade while founder and coach Walter 'Ringers' Musanhi was voted coach of the tournament.
Liam Moyo, son of former premier league prolific scorer More Moyo, was the tournament's top goal scorer after scoring a massive 21 goals during the course of the tournament.
Musanhu was pleased with the team's successful Asian excursion.
"I can say it was a successful trip with regard to what you are seeing that the kids came back with a gold medal and this trophy. We are very proud to be here and we are very proud to be called champions in Asia," he said.
Keep Reading
- Moyo: Matabeleland is marginalised
- Bubi human remains discovery sparks debate
- Moyo: Matabeleland is marginalised
- Bubi human remains discovery sparks debate
"I was talking to Honourable Scott Sakupwanya and he is very excited about this project and he was asking when would be the next trip which means everyone is ready to support the team. We have another trip to Spain and this was not our first time going outside the country. Last year we went to China, but we were not so successful. But it was a good learning experience," Musanhu added.
Jadel Football Academy has entered into a partnership with Northern Region Division One outfit Scottland Football Club where they will develop players to feed into the club.
Scottland Football Club were represented by chairman Tonderai Sakupwanya and secretary general Fortune Bgoni in welcoming the triumphant young players.
"I want to congratulate the Jadel Football Academy players and coaches for a successful trip to China. They represented the country well and we are very proud of them. And we wish them many more successful trips like that," Tonderai said.
"We are here as Scottland Football Club and if you were at the dinner before the kids left for China we mentioned that this was something we want to support. The partnership we are going to have with Jadel is where they are going to provide the pool where we are going to get a our players from. In future these are the players who are going to play for Scottland."
The Jadel Football Academy players got the opportunity to watch Scottland Football Club beat Banket United 2-0 at Rufaro Stadium on Friday, courtesy of goals from Allan Gahadzikwa and former Warriors fullback Ronald Pfumbidzai.
Gari Mukangairwa, the head coach for Jadel Football Academy Zimbabwe, expressed gratitude to Musanhu for giving the young players the opportunity to travel to China.
"First I want to thank Walter Musanhi for what he has been doing for the kids. I have been at the club since its inception and it has not been easy as it is now. The tournament in China had 164 teams and it is a major tournament in China. We won eight of our 10 matches and needed penalty shootouts in the quarterfinals and final to win the Cup," he said.
The players who travelled to China from Zimbabwe include Sean Pesani, Oneas Nyateka, Tashinga Wilbesi, Malcom Tadiwa Dinyero, Ashley Tanatswa Zimbawu, Tafara Machiwenyika , Liam Moyo, Christiano Konono and goalkeeper Mordecai Tungwarara.
Other players are based in China where the academy has its roots.
Jadel Football Academy is home to more than 130 kids including boys and girls in Zimbabwe.