As part of Costa Sports Pro (CSPRO) academy’s collaboration with AC Sparta Praha about fostering education and personal development of the youths, our Head Coach Mr. M Zengeni and two of our boys Takudzwa “Zhano” Darkeni and Brooklyn “Binso” Katumba were invited to Czech Republic. The coach spent two weeks in Prague where he had an unforgettable experience and learned a lot about football. He had a lot to share with us in the interview below:
T R Manyanye: Good morning coach I hope I find you well. How was the trip and was that your first time on another continent?
Head Coach Mr. M Zengeni: I’m okay and you. I cannot explain the feeling but indeed it was an unforgettable trip, and it was also my first time in Europe. With that, I’m grateful to both CSPRO and AC Sparta Praha for such an amazing experience.
T R Manyanye: Tell us how it happened that you ended up flying to Europe.
Mr. M Zengeni: Generally, CSPRO emphasizes education, not only for the youths, but for the management as well hence the journey was part of the development process. Sport is a dynamic environment and it’s ever-changing, that’s what we learn at CSPRO. We as the coaches, are taught that we are leaders of these youngsters, and we need to approach everything with an open mind and willing to learn every day. Hopefully, this culture can spread nationwide, I think it can be best for the sport.
T R Manyanye: You are into youth development, what differences did you note between the two environments?
Mr. M Zengeni: Yes, I’m into youth development but to be honest there are a lot of differences between Europe and us specifically here in Zimbabwe. I will talk about the most relevant differences that I observed to cut the long story short (laughs). Number one, training facilities I would not lie these guys have state-of-the-art training facilities. The sporting environment is conducive, and the youths have all they need in one place (e.g. fully equipped gym, dressing rooms, regeneration). It would be an advantage for our local boys to be exposed to such. I understand our sporting environment doesn’t compare with Europe, but I think with the little that we have, if we manage and coordinate well, it’s possible to create a conducive sporting environment for the youths. Number two, the approach to their junior teams is convenient for the youths, everything they need is available at the training center. Whereas, here (in Zimbabwe) for example, going to the gym is affected by many factors such as accessibility, availability, and costs. Here in Chitungwiza, I suppose we have less than two fully equipped gyms. I also noticed about 4-5 personnel (including coaches) for each age group at every training session. That makes it easier in terms of coordinating the training sessions concerning the number of youths available for training. Number three, youth are introduced to aspects that matter in professionalism at early ages e.g. at about 8 years there is already punctuality, dress code for the day, and responsibility, you know things like taking care of training equipment, dressing properly for training, team spirit, etc. etc. The parents are respectful of the game. Whilst here (in Zimbabwe) we are the opposite at that age of about 8 years, youngsters grow up without any structure in place and they start learning seriously about professionalism at later stages e.g. 16 years. A part of our community lacks respect for the game, or the youths. For example, sometimes when we are training, people walk through the pitch, and some even drive on the pitch, can you imagine? I think the most important is the structure in which everything is handled. From how the training schedules are planned and executed, there is coordination from the security guard to the lady working in the restaurant. Everyone is aware of what is happening at the training premises. It’s such a big training center with up to 8-9 training grounds but everything is coordinated well for every age group.
T R Manyanye: You visited your first ever Europa League live match, how was the experience and atmosphere?
Mr. M Zengeni: Wow…!! Our first visit there was so special we were given VIP tickets which we would scan at the gate to enter the stadium. While inside the stadium it seemed we were in a hotel (laughs) and again that was unbelievable and an unforgettable night in my life. We went into the VIP where we met the legendary Tomas Rosicky (current AC Sparta Praha Sporting Director). A football hero that I grew up idolizing, admiring, and just like that I am standing next to him, photos, handshakes. The club had prepared a surprise for us with their special edition gold and black shirts with our names on the back. We were all very happy about it. It was an honor to watch a game of such magnitude alongside our very own Costa Nhamoinesu. I was used to watching these games live on television but now I was in attendance physically. As a coach you live for these moments in which you can observe top-quality players live and see how they behave and play. Also as a fan of the game, it was amazing.
T R Manyanye: How was the experience of being allowed to enter the training premises of AC Sparta Praha whenever you wish?
Mr. M Zengeni: I took it as an honor, as an appreciation of the hard work of our local son of the soil (Costa Nhamoinesu). I immediately thought about the youngsters, if they can work hard enough then it will help to open doors for others. As a coach, it was a big step in the development of my career to be able to observe all junior teams up to the first team at a big professional team such as AC Sparta Praha. I imagined myself as a little boy from Chitungwiza and now rubbing shoulders with coaches in the Europa League!
T R Manyanye: You went with two boys, how was their adjustment? And what aspects were most difficult for them?
Mr. M Zengeni: The boys did not adjust immediately, it took some time for them, and besides this visit was part of their development as well. We had to see and feel how we can help develop our local youths. It was a learning process for us at CSPRO as a whole about our strategy and philosophy. Aspects such as the intensity of the training, tactics, and language were amongst the most difficult. Later on, it started getting colder which was also another area to adjust to. In my opinion, the structure, the orderly manner in which things were happening (e.g. the ability to use and the functioning of public transport) had the boys confused a bit since sometimes there were many changes in the train, bus or tram to get to your destination. Then there was the awe for the beauty of the training facilities compared to what they are used to.
T R Manyanye: What are some of the important aspects that we take for granted here and are very important?
Mr. M Zengeni: In the Czech Republic, I learned that there is this policy (No school, No football). Since the youths need to develop intelligence on and off the pitch. Whereas here (in Zimbabwe) we take these things for granted and a student can just skip school or training without communicating. It makes it difficult to plan for training that way. So, at CSPRO, we will continue to emphasize and become stricter about our philosophy of school and football. This means if you don’t attend school, you won’t be accepted for training as well, or you won’t even generally be accepted into the Academy.
T R Manyanye: What things should we improve when it comes to youth football development?
Mr. M Zengeni: Facilities are of paramount importance. We hope our administrators will help us in that area soon because, without facilities, we are as good as nothing. In addition to creativity, I also think concentration on the technical and tactical aspects should be given enough time Again, for these, you need proper equipment and facilities. We need to teach youngsters aspects of professionalism from an early age such that it doesn’t become a surprise when they reach a higher level. We should also keep on improving the education of the coaches to keep up with the ever-changing football environment. If we work together and respect each other as a community, we can get far. In the Czech Republic, I did not see any of the parents walking across the training ground, even if it was under 8s training, everyone stood or sat in their designated zones. Such respect changes the dynamics of everything. It is also important to focus on soccer-specific fitness and that would equip the youngsters with the ideal strength.
T R Manyanye: Did you meet up with Costa? How is he treated at the club?
Mr. M Zengeni: We arrived in the Czech Republic on a Monday and we
stayed there till we eventually met with Costa on Thursday the day the Europa League match was played. In the Czech Republic, I tell you: Costa is a big guy and seems as if he is a local because of the way he is treated, loved, and appreciated. When Costa arrived, we barely managed to walk for more than five meters without fans taking selfies and chatting with him. It was a beautiful thing to see “I thought maybe it was better not to walk with him in the center, we would end up not seeing Prague (Laughs)”.
So, this guy is a hero and a legend for AC Sparta Praha, and they do respect him. Before the match, he introduced us to several key members of the AC Sparta Praha family, and we felt at home. After the match, he took us to AC Sparta Praha’s changing rooms showing us and telling us about the history behind the club. Some of the great things that he showed us included the corridors decorated with portraits of club legends of AC Sparta Praha. Amongst those posters, boom..it was a great pleasure to see Costa there on the wall, embedded in club history, Spartan legend. In the dressing room, there was another portrait of him on the wall. I thought, wow this guy is respected and much more appreciated in Czech compared to here back home. After what I saw, I immediately thought about whether we are doing enough in Zimbabwe to appreciate our footballers who made it to the highest levels. How can we motivate our youngsters when we do not show enough appreciation for our own?
T R Manyanye: Do you think that kind of appreciation for soccer greats/legends can be used as motivation for the youths?
Mr. M Zengeni: Most definitely it instills a sense of belief and admiration in the youth which can in turn be converted to a driving force for them. For example, you could already see the admiration on the faces of the youths when they were accompanying Costa at the stadium, it’s proof for the youths that it’s also possible for them with the right approach. Just like what Costa said to them:
“You should work hard and smart, be consistent, try to do your best every day, and be the best version of yourself”.
T R Manyanye: Coach thank you for your time. Have a blessed day.
Mr. M Zengeni: Much appreciated thank you. Have a good day too.
