Ricky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter
BANTU Rovers’ attacking midfielder Marvin Sibanda yesterday left the country to further his studies in the US after getting a soccer scholarship. The 17-year-old, who was doing Form Five at Northlea High School, got a three-year scholarship to study at Taft School in Watertown which is in Connecticut State. According to information obtained from websites, Taft School is listed as one of the most expensive boarding schools in the United States.
Sibanda flew out of Bulawayo’s Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport for the US with 18-year-old striker Mthabisi Tshuma who is also at Taft and 16-year-old midfielder Percival Albert Sibanda who is at Brooks School.
Tshuma and Percival are also products of Bantu Rovers and got scholarships to study in the United States last year. An excited Sibanda said: “This is a dream come true for me and I’m grateful to Bantu Rovers for facilitating the scholarship. I’m really looking forward to my stay in America and I’m going there to learn, create relations and lay a foundation for my life.”
The Victoria Falls-bred budding soccer star joined Bantu Rovers in 2012. Just like Tshuma, Sibanda draws his inspiration from former Bantu Rovers midfielder Ezra “Era” Siyaduba who joined Taft in 2013 and has since graduated to college.
“I’ve watched a couple of videos and read articles on Siyaduba which are all inspirational. Tshuma gave me tips on what to expect and I’m up for the challenge. I will strive to achieve the standards set by Siyaduba and Tshuma so that I also leave a legacy at Taft which will open opportunities for other guys coming after me from Bantu Rovers,” said Sibanda.
Bantu Rovers’ general manager Wilbert Sibanda challenged Marvin to represent the club well.
“As Bantu Rovers we are pleased that through our contacts we managed to get a full scholarship for Marvin who has since arrived safely at Taft School. It is our hope that he will be able to balance his academic studies with football. It is our hope that he excels in his endeavours and inspires other youngsters to take their studies and sport seriously,” said Sibanda.
Besides Siyaduba and Tshuma, Bantu Rovers have facilitated scholarships for Sean Banda who is the son of Bulawayo’s deputy mayor Gift Banda, Ray Lunga son to former Highlanders striker Gift Lunga (senior) and Sean Moyo.
Banda, a former Zimbabwean representative at the continental junior track championships, broke a nearly half-century-old Choate Rosemary High School record in the 100 metres during a track event at the Taft School. Banda sprinted to the finish line in a jaw-dropping time of 10.60 seconds, beating the old record by .05 seconds.
Moyo, a former Mzilikazi High School student is at Bates College.