Local Football Academy Becomes A Safe Haven For Youths

By Richard Kawazi

What started off as bar talk in 2008, has manifested into reality saving lives of many youths from the scourge of drugs that has taken the country by storm.

It was an idea to form a football club that would address the problem of hopelessness among youths in Bindura’s townships and keep them focused with sport.

However, the football club then morphed into a sporting academy with time and many youths in the town are now beneficiaries.

As a result, youth talent derived from the academy has since been absorbed into the Premier Soccer League (PSL) and local Division One sides.

Nhau/Indaba had an exclusive interview with Dada Soccer academy co-founder Shadreck Njawala to share how the institution has positively impacted youths.

Njawala told Nhau/Indaba that besides running the academy since 2014, he is also a hair stylist and also runs a bar alongside a canteen at Chipadze township shops.

According to the coach and academy head himself – it is the passion to see the youth doing better for themselves while staying away from the vicious cycle of toxic habits such as drug abuse and prostitution that drives him.

“My main drive was to uplift the Chipadze youths who had dropped out of school at young ages without fully exploring their talents and give them an opportunity to spend their time wisely and realise their potential through sport and other productive areas in their lives,” said Njawala.

Dada Soccer Academy started off with a handful of children at the age of nine from Chipadze Primary School. The aim was to rescue talented children who were not enrolled in schools.

“Dada Academy started at Chipadze Primary, where we wanted to help talented children who were not going to school as well as dropouts incorporating them with those that were going to school,” explained Njawala.

The sporting academy started with a gender inclusive approach where boys and girls were welcome to participate.

He said the idea eventually attracted sponsors who volunteered to pay school fees for some of the school dropouts to be enrolled back into school.

“It soon turned into a football club and attracted well-wishers from overseas who donated kits for training and matches.”

At this point Njawala and other co-founders of the football club decided to legitimise the status of the community initiative and registered it as a fully operational football club.

It soon became a safe haven for youths who were struggling with social issues at home and school Njawala explained.

“As we expanded and started playing more games, the club attracted youths from various backgrounds and we realised that some of them were vulnerable and exposed to substance abuse,” he said.

The academy is now home to more than 70 youths who come to Chipadze stadium on their own volition to spend the day with Dada.

“What we realise now is that our soccer academy has grown beyond just sporting. The youths want a safe space where they can get mentorship on various issues in their lives,” said Njawala.

To continue operations beyond sport, Njawala is calling for relevant bodies to support him with human capital and vocational projects as well as mentorship programmes for the children who have found a safe space at the academy.

“I am calling for any kind support to keep these young people occupied. It could be training in life skills or even vocational training projects that go beyond sport”

“At the end of the day, I want to see a better for future for these youngsters. I want to see them excel beyond playing soccer”, said Njawala. Nhau/Indaba