OnSport Reporter
Former Warriors captain Benjani Mwaruwari has castigated Zifa for the short notice given to Diaspora Under-17 players to attend ongoing trials for the national team.
Mwaruwari, who had an illustrious career in the United Kingdom, playing for Manchester City among other teams, is rattled by the last minute invite.
He has a son, Benjani Jnr. (20), who plays in a low tier division club, Shepton Mallet AFC who is however, not eligible for the Under-17s but could play for the Under-23s, if opportunity arises.
“Being called to Harare on such short notice makes it practically impossible for aspiring players, especially those in the diaspora, to participate—given the challenges of securing flights, arranging time off school, and covering financial costs involved.
“Our national team belongs to every Zimbabwean, and it is crucial that inclusivity is established from the junior ranks. At U-17 level, this stage is particularly important as it forms the foundation of our footballing future. Without a clear and fair recruitment structure, we risk losing talented players who could one day strengthen the senior national team,” Mwaruwari said in his social media account on Facebook.
Mwaruwari said Zifa should prioritise long-term, sustainable structures for talent identification and development.
He said the association should establish regional scouting networks, partner schools and academies and junior leagues “to create a consistent pipeline of talent”.
The former Jomo Cosmos forward said it is important to set up transparent trials and training camps that give players from different backgrounds an equal opportunity and investing in qualified youth coaches who can nurture raw talent at this critical stage.
He acknowledges efforts being made by ZIFA in recruiting young talent for the national squads.
The trials started on Monday at Eaglesvale School in Harare and the final selection of the team will be on Saturday and immediately go into camp.
The squad is set the TotalEnergies Caf Under-17 Africa Cup of Nations/Cosafa qualifiers 2026, which are penciled for Harare from September 11-20, next month.
