Zimbabwe starlet Orlando Pirates bound

FRIENDLY Academy, the stable which groomed Orlando Pirates-bound teenage Zimbabwean midfielder Nyasha Marshall Munetsi, say the central midfielder is destined for the stars after securing a five-year deal with the South African soccer giants. South Africa website KickOff reported yesterday that the former Zimbabwe Under-17 player has sealed a move to the former champions where he is likely to link up with on-fire compatriot Tendai Ndoro.

Although the deal was yet to be made official by Orlando Pirates, Munetsi revealed he was already looking forward to the challenge next season, having spent one year with South Africa National First Division side FC Cape Town.

"It's through the grace of God I have achieved this. It is a great honour for me to play for a big club with a rich history. "I thank my teammates as well as all the management and staff for their support and belief in me. This means a lot to me and my family. I'm really excited about my new challenge," Munetsi told South Africa's KickOff magazine.

The former Young Warriors midfielder left Zimbabwe in July last year as an unknown quantity, but FC Cape Town were immediately impressed by his big frame and the ability to pass the ball around that they told the media they have discovered a player in the mould of Cote d'Ivoire and Manchester City's midfield dynamo Yaya Toure.

Richard Solobala, one of the directors at Friendly Academy, yesterday said Munetsi is a player for the future.

He said the teenager used to play as an attacking linkman with distinction during the formative years of his young career, but he has since converted into a prized central midfielder who could easily attract the attention of giants such as Orlando Pirates.

"It shows the quality of a player he is, just one season at FC Cape Town and the next thing we are talking about Orlando Pirates. In terms of potential, I can guarantee he is one youngster with a great future.

"I believe he is destined for great things if he doesn't lose it along the way. But I'm not worried about many things because we teach our youngsters from an early age to be God-fearing.

"For him to excel at Orlando Pirates, he has to continue working hard. It's a team full of stars and with the way I know him, he deserves to be there. He went there for trials sometime last year and did well. I don't doubt his abilities, I am sure this is just another step towards greatness," said Solobala.

Errol Dicks, owner of FC Cape Town, said the 19-year-old has rare qualities which could make him big in the near future. "We spotted him in Harare and obviously saw he's got some potential we could work with. He came to us and flourished.

"We, as the club are sincerely happy for him and his family, they come from humble beginnings," said Dicks. Friendly Academy also have two teenagers — Ali Machingura, a former teammate of Munetsi in the national Under-17 team, and Munyaradzi Chiunye — who are currently on trials in Poland.

They are accompanied by the academy's technical director Partridge Muskwe. Solobala said Zimbabwean football needs to put faith in youngsters in order for it to grow. "It's a pity our clubs don't accommodate young players. I am sorry to say this but most of our coaches in the Premiership have a wrong concept about young players.

"They don't have faith in the upcoming talents hence they don't get the exposure at the right age. Academies, I believe, are doing their part, but the Premiership is not ready to absorb the talents. At the end of the day the supply chain always dies at the top.

"Today we are talking of Munetsi joining Pirates but probably that is the same reason we didn't see the likes of Khama Billiat or Knowledge Musona playing in the domestic league. "No one bothers to look at what is happening at the academies.

"For example, right now we have a big team like Dynamos in desperate search for strikers yet there were plenty of promising youngsters whom they could have helped to get to the top had they taken them at a young age.

"There are still good strikers at the academies. Now they go back to those old players like (Evans) Gwekwerere," said Solabala.