HERENTALS TO ESTABLISH FOOTBALL ACADEMY
HERENTALS are set to establish a football academy to help develop raw talent galore across the country.
John Dhadhi, a Herentals board member, told H-Metro that they want to identify and promote local talent.
“The idea behind this is to identify and promote talent of our young players, as not all potential stars can be accommodated in our PSL, Division One and Division 2 teams.
“We noted that although our core product as Herentals Group of Colleges and schools is mainly education. Some of our potential and current learners may not be as brilliant in academics, yet they are good in football, hence the need for us to help them realise their dreams,” Dhadhi said.
He said the motive behind establishing the academy is more philanthropic than commercial, courtesy of their owner, Professor Innocent Benza.
“Some of our students will definitely benefit from this initiative and no joining fee is required from them since they have already enrolled with us, but other kids will pay some basic nominal fee (yet to be finalised by the board) just to cover some basic admin costs,” he said.
He said they will be operating through regional and community football tournaments to scout talent.
“We are going to use various methods and one of them is scouting through our regional coaches in all provinces we are operating in.
“Theoretical soccer lessons will be held at the centres and practicals will also be done at the centres where we have the relevant facilities or we may use external facilities where we don’t have enough at our centres.
“There is plenty of untapped talent in Zimbabwe hence the realisation by Prof Benza that through the academies, we can help churn out exceptional players for the nation and beyond. The nitty-gritties of how this will be done will be elaborated using basic guidelines and practices followed in soccer.”
“We will be recruiting from our primary students because our primary schools will also be running these academies directed by qualified coaches stationed at our different centres.
“We welcome everyone and parents can register their children with us. We have a very competitive women’s soccer side that won last season’s Super League in Zimbabwe, so both girls and boys who have passion and talent will benefit,” he said.