Story by Raynald Gwarati
A fresh wave of football development is sweeping across Zimbabwe, led by former professional players who are using the sport not only to scout rising stars but also as a tool to combat drug and substance abuse.
In the dusty pitches of Gombiro in Harare East, football is becoming a source of hope and purpose for young talent. The official launch of Master FC founded by former PSL player, Balon Chiseko, marks a significant step in this journey, with the club aiming to unearth raw talent, support grassroots football, and promote awareness against drug abuse.
“I am a former footballer and I ended my career in Botswana. Now I want to help kids who are scouted to play friendly matches with big PSL teams. Master FC will move around the country, giving out kits and balls to keep kids away from drugs. Our biggest challenge is resources,” Chiseko said.
Unlike many urban-based academies, Master FC is inclusive, targeting remote communities often forgotten by mainstream football structures.
The project is already drawing praise from veterans of the game.
“We need academies so our next generation can be nurtured. Right now, we have too few. If we build more, we can reach the apex,” Former Dynamos and CAPS United forward, Clive Kawinga noted
“We came from the grassroots. That is where everything starts. But without resources, you can’t reach the Premier League. You need help from the beginning,” Former Scotland FC striker, Isaac Nyazenga.
Despite the rise of junior development leagues, Zimbabwe’s football governing body, ZIFA, is yet to roll out structured grassroots systems, leaving most of the development burden on private initiatives like
