The kids training at a social sports club are part of the Aces Youth Soccer Academy (AYSA) based in Waterfalls, Harare. It's the same soccer talent ‘factory’ where Zimbabwe international soccer stars like Knowledge Musona and Khama Billiat have been produced.
“At least 40 percent of all Zimbabwean talent for the various national teams has come from AYSA,” says Nigel Munyati one of the directors and founder of AYSA.
During practice, many of the children shout the names of the most successful national soccer stars from AYSA alumni as they dream of becoming Zimbabwe's next soccer greats. Nigel Munyati and Marc Duvillard (another director and founder of AYSA) credit the success of the academy to the support they have received not only from the Government of Switzerland but also from the various Swiss private citizens.
Marc Duvillard deserves a special mention in the history of both Swiss and Zimbabwe football. He is a former Swiss player who played for club Lugano between 1984 and 1992 before turning to coaching in 1995. He has been very central in the development of Zimbabwean football since moving to the country in 1996.
Between 2014 and 2016 the soccer academy with part support from the Embassy of Switzerland completed the refurbishing of a new boarding facility to accommodate more young players as they sought to move a gear up in developing the next generation of Zimbabwe’s best footballers.
As a result of the refurbishment, the soccer academy has been able to accommodate more young players, thereby better managing them for talent development.
The boarding facility has more space for the young players, more showers, bedrooms and a lecture room where they watch some soccer matches together with the technical team.
In the past some of the young players have gone to Switzerland on attachment in preparation for international life, with others currently preparing to go to Spain in the next coming weeks.
The Aces Youth Soccer Academy (AYSA) is a sport and academic development institution for boys and girls aged between 10 and 18. Since its establishment in 2001, the Academy has provided social development support for Zimbabwe’s disadvantaged children through sport and academic education.
Many of the boys and girls who are enrolled at the academy were born into families shattered by HIV/AIDS and extreme poverty. Without AYSA’s intervention, many would have ended up on the streets and inevitably fall victim to drugs, crime and HIV/AIDS.
*Not his real name
