Try Ncube charmed by Munawa

“Players are not developed properly which is why quality of players has gone down abysmally. The biggest reason for this is the lack of proper sponsorship in football development. Without resources being made available, it is nearly impossible to have a viable development program,” he added.

The City coach said these days players who are over 34 are better than young players coming through the structures because of the quality of development they got when they were younger and playing in junior leagues. He insisted that players who came out of these old school junior structures were more refined than today’s products.

“It’s unfortunate that what we have today are unfinished products being rushed into senior team football. They are no longer as refined as the old school players who went through the old development structures. It’s not an easy job,” Ncube reiterated.

Ncube has coached several players who have gone on to become regulars at big clubs in the local Premiership. Names that come to mind are Nkosana Siwela (Hwange FC), Winston Mango (FC Platinum), and Sipho Ndlovu (Bulawayo City FC). Other players to have passed through his hands are Nhlanhla Ndlovu (Highlanders FC), and Nqobani Phakathi who also played for Hwange.

“I have coached quite a few players that have managed to break onto the big stage locally. I coached Nkosana Siwela, Winston Mango and Sipho Ndlovu while I was at Technosphere in Hwange,” he revealed.

Ncube said the standard of football in the country has gone down which is why stadiums don’t fill up anymore as compared to the old days.

Ncube got a decent education and was able to get the minimum five O-levels, a rarity in local football. He was forced to quit school after his O-levels because he was expected to find a job and fend for the family.

Ncube revealed that his favourite players in the Premiership are Highlanders’ Simon Munawa and the FC Platinum twins, Elvis and Kelvin Moyo. He further said he firmly believes Munawa, who has been scoring goals for Highlanders and helped his side to a number of victories, will be among Soccer Star finalists.

“Munawa has been coming in handy for the Highlanders’ quest for success. He has been scoring spectacular goals that have saved Highlanders from the jaws of defeat in many occasions. He is also good in attack but his letdown is that he is bad in defence,” he said.