FORMER Zimbabwe international and Zimbabwe’s first and only Brazilian export Kennedy Nagoli is excited by the football talent in rural Zhombe and is heading for the Midlands to have a look at the talent on offer.
Nagoli, who played for Santos in Brazil and Jomo Cosmos in South Africa is the star attraction at the two-day Mpondi Annual Sports Tournament that is set for Empress Mine on December 26 and 27.
In fact, Zhombe has a proud tradition of producing football stars and is the roots of the likes of John Phiri, Rhinos Mapfumo, and Lot Kaunda, who all made it big both at national and international levels.
Unfortunately, Empress and Venice Mine in Zhombe which used to have competitive teams in Division Two are no longer active leaving talented youngsters without any starting point.
Nagoli says he has been told there were a lot of John Phiris (former Warriors defender) who have emerged in Zhombe but what they are lacking is the exposure to make it on the big stage.
“There is a lot of talent in these rural areas but it is being let to pass. My visit is to identify those whom I think can make it big and try to give them the opportunity to expand on what they have,” said Nagoli.
Nagoli says he is going there to identify those talented youngsters and recommend them to top clubs that suit their style of play so that the raw talent can be refined for top class football.
“Every team has its own style of play and every player too has his own way of playing. I know how most of the PSL teams play. So, I will recommend the players to clubs that I think suit their styles of play so that they get the chance to blossom,” said Nagoli.
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Tournament organiser Douglas Mpondi says the tournament is not only to showcase sporting talent but to also bring the communities together during this period of the year.
“This tournament's main objective is to bring the community together and try to minimise crime and polarisation that have seen cases of violence on the rise in Zhombe,” said Mpondi who is also introducing netball in the two-year-old competition.
Nagoli, the former Ziscosteel midfielder and one time Castle Lager Soccer Star of the Year finalist featured for Santos in Brazil the team that made the great Pele popular and also gave the chance to the legendary Jomo Sono of South Africa during his peak.
“The players will have first hand experience to interact with Nagoli, someone who has played for Ziscosteel, Jomo Cosmos, Pele's Santos in Brazil, and several clubs in Europe,” added Mpondi
The Mpondi tournament is one of many such competitions that are lined up across the country during this festive period as the search for fresh inspiration in Zimbabwean football continues.
The country wants to shift from the system of recycling the same talent which has seen the same old players — for years — moving from one club to the other during the off-season break.
Netball has also been added to be part of the tournament.
