By Sheldon Hakata

IN the diverse, dry veld of Zaranyika Village, the blazing sun subdues the body and saps its energy.
But still, energetic athletes who refuse to be subdued emerge from the village.
A son of the soil, an unknown quantity in Zimbabwe and global football, but to the Zaranyika Village a hero, has brought hope to that sprawling community.
Unearthing gems from the deep throes of Murehwa, Louis Mahachi has been knitting a formidable team of unknown but immensely talented youngsters from Mashonaland East Province.
He is no Arsene Wenger, Jose Mourinho, Mauricio Pochettino, Jurgen Klopp or Pep Guardiola, but to the people of Murehwa, he is more than all these stellar coaches combined.
Mahachi dreams big.
He sees his Mahachi Football Club rubbing shoulders with the country’s big teams.
“Obviously when you embark on a journey like this one, there are many prospects to look forward to,” said Mahachi on the sidelines of his team’s drubbing of Musami Mission last week.
“I hope that in the next coming few years, my team will be playing in the Castle Lager Premier League. Of course I support DeMbare and I hope we will play them soon.”
Mahachi says what he has started is a project to uplift the livelihoods of youths in the community through sport.
He believes other businessmen will assist the community eke out a living and improve its lot.
The club has a solid relationship with the community.
Beginning at the grassroots has been identified as an effective way of identifying new talent.
Of late, most clubs have abandoned this well-trodden road to success, preferring to buy recycled players, in the process denying budding stars the opportunity to make a mark in the premiership.
Talented players from across the community represent the Mahachi Football Club in the Murehwa Area Zone (MAZ).
The team was formed during the Rhodesian era but folded and for three decades was dormant before Mahachi took over funding of the team early this year.
The MAZ league has 18 teams that include Medic, Prison, Eastern, Bulls, ZRP, Rangers, Makombe, Musami Mission, Musosonwa, Marugara, Zimstars, Tsokoto, Mahachi FC, Yellow, Muchis, Snipers, Chillie and Arrows.
Sport, especially football, has been used in the district to combat thuggery, juvenile delinquency as well as abuse of drugs.
The team, though with minimal resources, has stayed afloat due to the commitment of its stakeholders.
The young men who play for the team consider themselves employeed.
Many of these players grew up in poverty. They are from poor backgrounds and they are just trying to make ends meet.
Some of them do not even own boots and are contend to play in a nice jersey and pair of shorts.
Their type of play is impressive. They are good technically and display some good one-time passes.
Murehwa, has a troubled past.
During the liberation struggle, thousands of people were killed and maimed by Ian Smith’s Rhodesian army.
Locals describe the massacres in the area as genocide.
This history has not been forgotten in the area.
It is history known to these young men who are obsessed with football and the English Premier League.
They are inspired by star African players such as Mohamed Salah, former Chelsea’s Michael Essein and a whole lot more.
And in the dusty pitch, they work feverishly, hoping to attract the attention of scouts who might be in the crowd.
All are determined to one day ply their trade in the big leagues.
It is that hope, and belief, in themselves that keeps them going.
Clearly, If provided with more support, they can give a good account of themselves anywhere in the world.
Players like national goal keeper Energy Murambadoro were scouted in Gokwe.
And among these players in Murehwa are rough diamonds waiting to be polished.
A player like talented and prolific striker 23-year-old Nyasha Jimu has potential to turn into a great player with adequate nurturing .
It is time that our coaches spend time in these remote areas scouting for the next Peter Ndlovu or a player who will actually surpass his exploits.