#Bring back WAFA.

In an effort to improve local football, the Hwange soccer community has called for the resuscitation of Wankie Football Association (WAFA) and create leagues and groom players who will feed into the Chipangano Foot Ball club.

The revival of the association which is being supported by local football legends such as Weekly Mwale, son of the legendary Amos Rendo, Thembinkosi Rendo just to mention a few.

Thembinkosi Rendo said there is a need to resuscitate the WAFA league as it will also help Hwange youths to desist from drug abuse.

“The young generation is not equally occupied hence they indulge in drug abuse, the bringing back of WAFA is a mitigation measure of drug abuse,” said Rendo.

WAFA league was sponsored by the Hwange Colliery Company in the yester years. A number of Division 1 and 2 teams in Hwange were a result of WAFA.

The teams include Rufaro Rovers, Iwisa, Marathon, Brazil, Kabwe, Giant killers Swallows, Railton, Empumalanga UTD, Rusupuko, ZRP, Processing, Project football clubs.

These teams provided Hwange FC with players such as Jimmy Sibanda, Barton Mwalukula, Francis Mwinag Rodrick Simwanza, Skeva Phiri and Posani Sibanda.

A product of WAFA, Faki Tshuma highlighted the cost effectiveness of having WAFA.

“WAFA has helped the yester teams in equipping officials with the technical knowhow and the desired objectives of football,” said Tshuma.

Legendary midfielder Alec Nyoni bemoaned the current lack of development of youthful players to lack of competition.

“WAFA used to give us a platform to do better, we would compete to perfection and as a result we would be selected in bigger teams,” said Nyoni.

Some of the players who came from WAFA leagues and made it to Hwange Football Team and some in the national team include Mabelo Njekwa, Misheck ‘Roadblock’ Sibanda, Kenneth Ngulube, Aleck Nyoni, Rufaro, Mailos Phiri, David Phiri, Walter Tshuma, Witness Munkuli, Gilbert Zulu and Chenjerai Dube.

Meanwhile a committee has been set up to bring WAFA back and is made up of Thulani Moyo who will be the Chairperson Collen Sibanda as Vice Chairman; Treasurer, Faki Chuma the soccer legend and coach, Secretary General Lunyalalo Ncube. Committee members include, Alec Nyoni. Hwange football club Legend and also WAFA legend, James Simwanza and Mbongeni Ncube.