KWEKWE – Amaveni High School soccer player, Innocent Muteka has made it to the Under 15
National Team that is set for the Confederation of Southern African School Sports Associations
(Cosassa) Ball Games in Botswana.
He was among the players selected for the Cosassa games after impressing at the trials in Harare
from October 27 to29.
Muteka’s schoolmates – Tanaka Phiri, who doubles as a defender and midfielder, Willard Sibanda a
defender, Oscar Ncube a striker and midfielder, and Austin Ncube who can play any position, all
failed to impress the selectors.
Parents and other stakeholders paid the expenses for the football players after Amaveni High failed
to raise funds.
Chatimba Munyaradzi, who is their head coach thanked the parents who assisted the players with
money and felt proud that his products are recognised by the nation after calling for endless support
from all citizens to ensure that the players’ talents are identified, nurtured and fully exploited.
"I am very happy that the boys got a chance to express themselves. They are also very happy
because they learnt from others at the highest level of the competition. All the credit goes to the
parents who supported their children to make the trip a success.
“To everyone out there, we look forward to your support in whatever way to make sure that
Innocent's journey to Botswana will be forever remembered. Let us support pupils’ talents from all
corners,” Munyaradzi said.
Innocent thanked his coaches for grooming him to represent Zimbabwe and promised to make the
country proud as it is the beginning of his promising career.
“A million thanks to the coaches, my parents for their support for playing a pivotal role in the
foundation of my career and it is my dream to be a world star and make the nation proud.
“I would like to encourage my colleagues to work hard and not give up on their talents, remain
focused, and to stay away from drugs, soccer is our life,” he said.
Innocent’s mother thanked the teachers and coaches for grooming and nurturing his talent and
encouraged parents to stand with teachers in moulding learners to have a bright future.
“I would like to thank first those who trained him to be a soccer player because at first, we had no
vision of him as a soccer player to represent Zimbabwe.
“I would also want to thank his teachers at school as they are continually encouraging him, guiding
him to be disciplined because you cannot be a successful player without discipline, and I would like
to urge all parents to support their children in whatever they are talented in,” said Innocent’s
mother.
The squad has three goalkeepers that are Ismail Lunati, Victor Nyemba, and Siyabonga Zimba, eight
defenders – Darrel Zulu, Mufaro Mutarisi, Pablo Membera, Innocent Muteka, Nokutenda Nyakonga,
Benedict Kuimba, Vincent Mukondo, and Tawonaishe Ngorima, five midfielders are Awakhiwe
Tshalibe, Tadiwa Chakuchichi, Tashinga Taruwedzera, Moses Maremutsa, and Nathan Mabika and six
strikers namely Tatenda Maurindi, Adonai Sadomba, Marlon Zuruvi, Benjamin Matyatya, Elsha
Sadomda, and Justice Chadenda.
