3 Surestream players set for Europe trials next year

Surestream Academy founder Chris Pitman has said he is very much impressed with the nurturing process of up-and-coming talent at the institution to the effect that three products to be chosen by the technical committee, are set for Europe trials one year before their targeted maturity period.

Speaking from England on Wednesday, Pitman said the three players that will be chosen, are expected to travel to England during the first quarter of next year to try their luck at clubs such as Leicester City and Coventry.

“The ground work has already been done. I have spoken to a number of youth team directors and tremendous progress has been made. If all goes well, we expect to send at least three outstanding players.

“I have already asked Peter [Mponda] who is our technical director and his backroom staff to choose at least three players that have the absolute essentials to make the grade in Europe,” said Pitman.

The academy owner also said he is overwhelmed with the progress that has been made in just two of the three years that they targeted for the academy to start bearing fruits.

“To imagine that two of our products [goalkeeper Brighton Munthali and midfielder Ernest Tambe] were considered for the national team recently and that seven players were key members in the Under-20 national team that made it to the final qualifying round of the [2015] Africa Youth Championship qualifiers, gives us more satisfaction and it can only get better,” said Pitman.

Munthali and Tambe were also key members of the Junior Flames that ousted Botswana and DR Congo from the premier continental youth tournament before they lost to Zambia at the last hurdle. Others were Mark Fodya, Trevor Kalema, Levison Maganizo, Isaac Mwale and Patrick Phiri.

The investment of over $1 million [about K445 million] that included renovation of the Surestream Stadium, coupled with sound technical set-up headed by Mponda, has been the centrepiece of the academy’s headway.

Mponda said the professional set-up at the academy is helping them to achieve their goals.

“Discipline is a priority and we see to it that all the players adhere to the rules and we have a team of dedicated trainers from under-14 right up to under-20 level. We have tacticians for specific areas,” said Mponda.

He also dismissed suggestions that the academy is losing focus as concentration is on the Under-20 team’s participation in the second-tier Southern Region Football League (SRFL) Premier Division other than nurturing and grooming talent.

“Let me clarify that the reason we joined the competitive league was to prepare players that have graduated from under-17 for the big stage.

“We thought it wise that as one way of preparing them before they are sent for trials abroad, they should play in a competitive league,” said Mponda.

He said those that cannot be considered for opportunities abroad, will either be maintained or sold to local teams.

Mponda said players are identified through trials that are held annually at district level in all the regions.

“We have conducted trials in all the three regions twice and all the players that we have were identified through the rigorous trials that are held in phases.

Tambe, who was the academy’s first product to undergo trials at South African Premier Soccer League (PSL) side Bloemfontein Celtic at the start of the season, believes that at the academy the training given would help the graduates to make the grade in Europe.

“I have gained a lot in the two years that I have been at the academy because we go through special training that includes basics, physical conditioning and ball work.

“In fact I realised when I went to South Africa that the set-up is similar; I could have passed the trials there, but I went there late when the trial period was already over and I did not get a chance. But arrangements are being made that I go there again,” said Tambe.

He added: “Everything is handled very professionally at Surestream because apart from learning football skills, education is also a must.”

Surestream’s Under-20 side won the Division One championship last season to earn promotion into the premiership.