ZIFA Bulawayo Province Division Two log leaders National University of Science and Technology (Nust) are hopeful of playing in the Premier Soccer League someday.
This was revealed by the institution’s spokesperson, Thabani Mpofu in an interview with Zimpapers Sports Hub on Friday.
With eight matches to go, the Students find themselves at the apex of the table. They have 47 points from 22 matches.
In second position is Eagle Life who are coached by Philani Mabhena. The church team has 45 points while in third and fourth place are Chicken Inn and Khami United with 44 and 42 points respectively in what looks like a competitive championship race which is still wide open.
Plumtree Wanderers are fifth with 38 and still mathematically in the race. While revelling at being at the top Mpofu said the team’s existence and participation in the league is part of the institution’s strategy to contribute socially and economically to the country.
“Our participation in football is part of the University’s broad strategy of contributing to the social and economic development of the country. We believe we have a role to play in the development of sport in general and football in particular,” said Mpofu.
He said having a team in competitive football sits well with the university which has a Sports Science Department. It is a chance to put into practice what would have been theorised.
“As you already know, we run a Department of Sports Science and Coaching. However, we do not just spend our time theorising, but we are very practical in our approach across all sporting disciplines,” said Mpofu whose university has also had athletes of repute like Nyasha Charandura and Daliso Khambule dominating in athletics at both college level and in the National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe level.
“Nust FC is more than a Division Two team, it is the university’s football laboratory where we identify raw talent and nurture it for the growth of football in Zimbabwe. So, yes, we are ready for Division One,” he said.
Mpofu also appealed to the corporate sector to invest by partnering with the team. He said they would love to see the team playing in the elite league like other teams that have been associated with universities. Pretoria University, Stellebosch and Wits all of South Africa come to mind.
“We are inviting the corporate world to partner us in this journey. Our wish is to play in the topflight league, the Premier Soccer League. In South Africa, for example, clubs associated with universities like Wits and Stellenbosch play or played in the top flight. Their boys have done well. We believe we have the talent to compete at that top level.
“Our plan is to form a football academy under our Sports Science and Coaching Department and produce soccer players, coaches, referees and other technical experts. We have qualified and experienced sports lecturers,” said Mpofu.
He said resources are the stumbling block. The varsity team is made up of students from various academic programmes.
“Our approach is that only students can play in the team. Staff members are in the executive where they assist with the day-to-day running of the team. I must say we have a very strong support base from Nust students who follow the team home and away,” said Mpofu.
Mpofu acknowledged that their Department of Sports Science and Coaching plays a big role in the growth of the club which was previously coached by now Zifa education officer Joseph Sibindi.
Mpofu emphasised that the team is a university project hence the participation of the whole institution. Some of the players are studying programmes in the Department of Sports Science and Coaching.
Former Bosso and Caps United striker Gabriel Nyoni, Greenfuel’s Gift Saunyama, Gift Mandaza of Sheasham, Bosso 90’s Shawn Marara, Bulawayo Chiefs’ Lucky Ndlela and Chicken Inn’s Dominic Jaricha are some of the players that were at the institution.
Francis Motsi was identified at the institution and given an academic and sporting scholarship in the US. Other former graduates of Nust are Clemence Matawu (Chicken Inn) and Abraham Mbaiwa (Highlanders) who both hold degrees in Sports Science and Coaching.
Lovemore Dube-Sunday News