Game-On Reporter
NOT only were they the best Premier Soccer League side from Harare in the 2024 season, but Herentals also boast a strong grassroots development program that is championed by Tafadzwa Benza, who was recently honoured for his great vision.
Benza’s efforts in developing football in the country were recognised by The Herald who awarded the Outstanding Football Development Excellence award during the inaugural “Herald Community Heroes Awards” early this week.
Benza has been the influential man behind the scenes in the success story of the Herentals’ football dynasty.
A dynasty that comprises a Premier League team, a Women’s Premier Soccer League side, a Northern Region Division One side, two Division Two sides based in rural Rusape and Kadoma, a Division Two women’s side and a vibrant Herentals Academy side.
It was an exciting Monday evening for the football administrator as he his efforts in football development were recognised.
“I am very happy to have been one of the recipients of these prestigious awards from the leading daily newspaper in the country.
“It gives me some sense of pride and pushes me into doing even greater things in football,” said Benza.
Herentals FC finished as the best PSL team in the capital ahead of perennial giants Dynamos and CAPS United in the 2024 season, while the women’s team claimed its third consecutive top flightleague title.
Benza revealed that the success is because of a strong development plan that the club has.
“The success of our flagship sides is a result of a strong development background that we have as Herentals.
“We have a Division One team, four Division Two teams and thriving national academy which is fed by our different academies dotted across the country.
“As a club we have a system that grooms players and feed into our senior teams and I think this has now paid dividends.
“Especially if you are to look at how our teams have become competitive and also looking at the players that we have produced who are doing well at other teams,” he said.
“The vision for Herentals FC projects is to create a platform where our young people can express themselves and their talent in football.
“This vision is so big that we obviously want to have teams in every province and we are definitely on course to achieve that,” added Benza.
Having amassed football administration experience, Benza is now vying for a Board member position in the upcoming Zifa elections.
