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Ex-Sundowns forward’s new venture: A beacon of hope for Zimbabwean football
By Far Post
Former Zimbabwe Warriors and Mamelodi Sundowns forward Cuthbert Malajila has found a new path in his homeland.
While playing for Maritzburg United in 2012, Malajila founded the CUMA Academy. The academy houses Under 13s, 15s, 19s and 23s. And the founding crop of Under-13s has gone on to be the senior team competing in big tournaments, while some have already left.
At the moment, CUMA Academy is competing in Zimbabwe’s second division, which is equivalent to the ABC Motsepe League.
They were relegated from the first division, the Northern Region Soccer League, at the end of the 2023 season.
The academy has been robust in terms of training programs as well as plucking good talent from obscurity.
In fact, they are one of the few academies that are focusing on giving budding footballers a new lease of life.
However, they are yet to make a major sale in their 12 years of existence, as they were targeting to create synergies with teams in the Betway Premiership and beyond.
And Malajila who co-owns the project with his friend and businessman Herbert Manyowa says they have refreshed their goals.
When asked by FARPost what they are planning with CUMA Academy products, Malajila said:
“We finished the 2024 season in fifth position in the second division. That wasn’t our best but ultimately our boys are getting exposure every day.
“As for our plans, we wanted to send them out to teams in South Africa and even beyond.
“But in football, you can’t take that approach. To be honest, some of the players are not yet ready. They will soon be ready.
“So now, our vision is to start local and have our products spread their wings as our brand also grows big in the country. Our focus is to have them ready for our PSL first.”
In 2022, the retired footballer set a perfect example for his team, when he played with them, rubbing shoulders with the rookies in the dressing room, away from his director’s role.