Evans Zhou
BULAWAYO— On a field without grass in Nketa, boys in the under-13, under-15 and under-17 teams of Nketa Football Club train each week for a future in the game.
The club is more than a team for them, but a lack of facilities and funding slows their progress.
Their passing and movement stand out, yet the venue works against them. The ground has no goal posts.
Visiting teams often complain about the conditions. For the players, this is home.
Basic gear is scarce. Many do not own boots. Some share; others play barefoot and risk injury.
Kits rarely match and wear out.
Balls are few and often lose air, cutting into training time and match quality.
Travel adds strain. With no transport budget, all age groups ride in one open truck to league games across Bulawayo. At times, the truck makes several trips, delaying kickoffs and tiring players before they start.
There is no medical cover. No first-aid kit, no physiotherapist, no injury plan. “When one of us gets injured, a small kid runs in with a 500ml bottle of water — that’s our first aid,” one player said.
Nutrition is a problem, said under-17 player Lesley Zibengwa.
“We don’t have refreshments. When we play, we just drink water, or sometimes there is no water at all.”
Many train and play on empty stomachs.
Most come from low-income households. Football is more than a pastime; it is a path they hope can change their lives.
Without support, that path narrows.
“We would like help to fix the ground, get nets and match balls,” said under-15 player Clarence Honye.
“When teams visit, they laugh at our pitch.”
Nketa FC’s situation mirrors that of many community teams in Zimbabwe: talent in place, resources not.
The boys have the drive.
They need a chance.
