By Sports Correspondent
Initially there was Sunday and Misheck Marimo of Dynamos football club, there was also Adam and Madhinda Ndlovu from the junior academy of Highlanders football club in Bulawayo.
Equally there was Tendayi, Itayi, Charles, Wesley and Christopher Chiezah, the amazing football family from Mhangura and Hartley, now Chegutu.
Today we have the Chishiri brothers. Two young Zimbabwean soccer players who are in demand by football clubs in America, England, Spain, Eastern Europe, Italy, Greece and Portugal because of their exceptional talent with the ball.
During football selection trials held at High Achievers Sports Academy in Greystone Park, Borrowdale, during the weekend, the exceptionally talented younger brother, Jonathan Chishiri Junior – known simply as Jonah was the star of the event by scoring two goals. His cool demeanour belies his determined character and his passion for the game.
Gemnation News, known for the promotion of young talent in the fields of art, music, theatre, film, and sports, covered the trials organised by the FC Porto Academy in Portugal to scout for young local football talent amongst the youth in the sprawling Borrowdale area, especially amongst the less privileged youths from the Domboshava and Hatcliffe areas.
Over 65 youths between the ages of 8 and 18 gathered at the High Achievers Sports stadium in Helensvale, for trial matches and potential selection to train and possibly play for the prestigious FC Porto soccer academy in Portugal.
Porto’s selection process and soccer training programme began mid-last year in 2023, for the age range of Under 10s, 13s, 15s, 17s and Under 20s. Surprisingly, two girls were also training with the boys, and earmarked for professional training with the Portuguese club.
Jonathan Chishiri junior
The young 10-year-old Chishiri junior, from the Greystone Park Football Academy played with the U13s. He proved the star of the trial matches scoring two goals and winning the approval of the small crowd of parents and numerous coaches on hand engaged to train and mentor the youths for FC Porto.
Extremely nonchalant, the diminutive star of the day is a natural fast runner and instinctive goal scorer – with impressive accurate ball distribution and an alert and active vision on the pitch.
His 16-year-elder brother, Byron Chishiri, is equally passionate about football and looks forward to being selected for the Under 18s. In fact, they are the hope of the entire neighbourhood. Their father was a former athlete for Dairiboard and won the cross-country in 1995 and 1996, whilst the mother was a keen netball player.
They admit they are proud of their son’s talent and expressed their gratitude for the FC Porto talent scouting project, saying “it keeps the children healthy and away from mischief”.
The FC Porto Academy football scouting project is a positive social development for the Helensvale and Domboshava communities and it should be commended and supported by the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Recreation through financial and other assistance to the selected candidates, for the development of Zimbabwean youths.
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