Former Highlanders Football Club skipper and Warriors kingpin, Thulani ‘Biya’ Ncube, is still doing what he likes best - soccer.
Ncube, who was affectionately known as Biya for his defence prowess during his heydays, is teaching young American children how to kick the ball.
Ncube told VOA Studio 7 he is pleased that he is helping many children in USA to acquire football skills while undergoing their studies.
“I came here in 2003 and it’s not too bad. I work with schools and junior teams, academies, something like that. Right now I am a director of coaching. There is a club called MC United. I am the director of coaching on the boys side.
“Most of the time I work on developing young kids, like from the age of eight going up to the age of 18. Most of the time it’s just developing them on knowing how to play (soccer), especially the younger ones … knowing how to play the ball, knowing how to pass the ball so that when they get older they will know those things.”
Biya said it is difficult to teach most of the children since they only start playing soccer when they get to MC United or academies. “You have to teach them everything but it’s good because I am doing what I like, especially in developing these young kids.”
He said it would be good if Zimbabwe embarks on such programs though most of the kids start playing soccer when they are young.
Biya noted that soccer in USA is normally fused with education in order to groom solid individuals that can rely on college knowledge when they retire and are not into soccer.
He said a large number of children trained at MC United and some academies go to colleges after securing scholarships.
In comparison to Zimbabwe, Biya said, this was not the case back home where players concentrate on soccer alone.
“I believe that this should be encouraged if Zimbabwe wants to participate in the World Cup in the near future.”
Biya played for Highlanders Football Club and the national soccer squad, the Warriors, before leaving for America.
