MARTIN MAWAYA
GWERU-Castle Lager Premier Soccer League side TelOne FC has launched a football academy at Mambo High School in Gweru as part of efforts to nurture young talent and create a structured pathway from school to the professional game.
The initiative, unveiled as part of the club’s 10th anniversary celebrations, is expected to combine academic education with high-performance football training, providing young players with an opportunity to pursue both sporting and educational goals.
The club said the academy will serve as a feeder system for TelOne FC, identifying and developing promising players who could eventually graduate into the senior team.
The telecommunications backed side said qualified coaches would be deployed to oversee the programme, with training based on the club’s established football philosophy.
The academy’s teams are also set to participate in regional junior leagues and national schools competitions, including tournaments organised by the National Association of Secondary School Heads (NASH), giving players exposure to competitive football at a young age.
TelOne FC said it would provide the academy with official playing kits and modern training equipment to ensure a professional learning environment for aspiring footballers.
The project is also being positioned as a corporate social responsibility initiative aimed at empowering youths through sport while contributing to community development in Gweru and the wider Midlands province.
The launch comes at a time when Zimbabwean football clubs are increasingly investing in grassroots structures amid growing calls for sustainable talent development systems.
The partnership is set to strengthen the city’s reputation as a breeding ground for football talent while creating opportunities for young athletes to access professional coaching without compromising their education.
Club officials said the academy seeks to establish a new benchmark for youth football development in the Midlands by integrating academic excellence with elite sports training.
