MIDLANDS-based Rise of Hope Academy (ROHA) is dreaming big as they have set their eyes on touring Australia to expose their budding footballers to global competition.
ROHA, domiciled in Gweru’s Mkoba suburb, opened their doors to young footballers from the surrounding areas in May 2019 and has been running programs from Under-11 to Under-23.
Like most talent identification projects, the project has yet to be a walk in the park, as this requires the vision, resources and sheer determination to restore hope and uplift talent from the Mkoba suburbs of Gweru.
Their journey and the value they have unlocked in promising footballers haven’t gone unnoticed. They have managed to court the sponsorship from Needs for Africa, an entity based in the United Kingdom and Luxembourg-based Cooking with Tira, who supply kits for boys and girls, respectively.
Governor Pedzisai has done a stellar job with the girl’s section. Taimon” Kaka” Hove, who coaches the boys, has created very competitive age group teams within the academy, which envy male academies. Through his Foundation, this has helped seal another partnership with former Bournemouth and Udinese right back Jordan Zemura.
As they celebrate their fifth year, ROHA Secretary General Benson Chiguri told Entersportnews that they are preparing for a tour of Australia this year as they try to forge new partnerships and expose the academy players to professional environments.
“We are amongst the best academies in talent identification and development in Gweru. This is a fresh year, and we have a jam-packed program of events starting with a possible tour to Australia to give back to the Mkoba community who have been good to us. We are setting up a ROHA community foundation,” said Chiguri
Chiguri has been impressed with the work ethic of both the coaching staff and their playing personnel, which has allowed the vision of ROHA to cascade down to all levels of those involved with the academy.
“The level of commitment from the coaching staff has even spilt over to the lads who give it their all whenever they are scheduled to play for any game in their different categories from Under 11s, 13s,15s, 17s and last 23s. Their level of commitment has been contagious and has attracted the support and buy-in from the community,” added Chiguri
The midlands community has in the past produced household names like former Premier Soccer League soccer star Max Marhino Dube, the late Paul Gundani, who was a member of the Dream Team, Justice Majabvi, Cain and Abel Muteji and many others.
But lately, the midlands have been a pale shadow of its former self; the Shesham FC owner managed to renovate the Bata stadium and brought football back to premiership to Gweru, and ROHA wants to churn out more bona fide talent from the Midlands.
ROHA is turning out to be a pinnacle of modern football development.
