Game On Reporter
OUTSPOKEN legend, Murape Murape, has spoken out again.
This time the former Dynamos captain is talking about how Zimbabwe is not utilizing former footballers as a weapon for junior development.
Drawing some inspiration from Tanzania, whose Under-17 team reached the final at the CAF Africa Cup of Nations held in Morocco recently, Murape is calling for the inclusion of more former footballers in football structures.
Tanzania’s success has caught the attention of some local football development actors including Murape, who now runs a Harare based academy called Real Oviedo.
“In Tanzania, they have matched political will and football brains.
“They didn’t just give former players symbolic roles, or ambassadorial roles, but real power to influence in terms of football development,” Murape told The Herald.
Tanzania have entrusted several former footballers to spearhead football development across the East African country.
Former footballer and coach Oscar Mirambo is now the Technical Director of the country’s Football Association.
“These former players were empowered to design a synchronized system, where schools, local academies and national youth teams speak the same language,” said Murape.
The firebrand former DeMbare skipper dropped another stinging line.
“For too long, structures have been managed by administrators who look at football through spreadsheets rather than football minds,” thundered Murape.
“I think former players is the most underutilized weapon in our bid to turn around fortunes.
“What has dragged us back is not lack of funding but a massive structural gap in technical leadership.”
Tanzania’s system has produced rising stars like midfielder Issa Mussa Chole who was named Player of the Tournament at the AFCON Under-17 finals.
Striker Dismas Shida Athanasi won the Golden Boot after scoring three goals.
