Friendly Academy

Friendly Academy Logo

Friendly Academy is a fully Zimbabwean organization founded in the year 2012 and a football academy affiliated with the Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) Junior League, Harare Province, with the aim to scout, train, develop and link soccer talented youths with life changing opportunities and sport scholarships both locally as well as abroad.

Background

Friendly Academy is a collaboration of some of the best experienced and knowledgeable coaches and football administrators. The academy focus on grassroots to professional soccer development through its daily activities and coaches are also involved in other sporting activities such as the National Junior teams. It was founded by Richard Solobala and junior football coach Partridge Muskwe,^[1] Friendly Academy is situated at Number 2673, 62 Crescent, Kuwadzana 4, Harare.^[2] Friendly Academy.

Academy Success

Friendly Academy has been credited by success stories of sending students and young footballers on Scholarships to the United States Universities for studies or to further their football careers. Friendly has so far managed to send young footballers such as:

Tendai Jirira a former Prince Edward High School who went to the University of North Western Ohio in January 2013 and is doing a degree in Business Administration and management.

Valentine Murombo who went to Jacksonville University in the USA on a 100% scholarship a student from Kyle College in Masvingo and he is pursuing a degree in business administration and management.

Tatenda Mukuruva is the current Dynamos FC goalkeeper he got a scholarship to one of the Universities in the United States to further his career

Tafadzwa Magombo and Austin Rwodzi, Austin joined RCD Espanyol Under 15 on trials in december 2013 in Spain, where he was signed by Rcd Espanyol for 4 years on scholarship. Both Austin and Tafadzwa were the first Zimbabwean players to play in La liga, at junior level.^[3]

Friendly Academy have been successful in sending talented young footballers for trials to European clubs such as AC Milan and Arsenal

Academy Ownership

Richard Solobala, Richard was born in 1976 and he is the Director of Operations for Friendly Academy. He is a former player who played as striker and goalkeeper for different division teams and a former Caps United Football Club junior player. Richard has experience in international soccer and has been on tours to Manchester United as coach and administrator and secretary for Blue Rangers FC, a Zimbabwe Premier Soccer League team in 2012. He also travelled for soccer tours and trials to Colombia-an AC Milan Junior Tournament event, to UK for soccer trials at Corby Town FC and to Spain 5 times for RCD Espanyol soccer trials.

Sydney Matanhike Sydney was born in 1983 is in charge of Finance and Administration for Friendly Academy. He is certified management accountant with vast experience in finance and administration in different sectors including sports, agriculture and information and communication technology. He is a former treasure for Blue Rangers FC and the finance and administration for WWS Sports Academy.

Partridge Muskwe Partridge was, born in 1967 he is the Technical Director for Friendly Academy. Partridge is a qualified coach and has vast football experience in football coaching. He has been involved in football activities since the super league era as a player for Caps United FC and Rufaro Rovers before he moved to South Africa, where he played for Jomo Cosmos and later Dangerous Duckies. Partridge Muskwe is also the current Zimbabwe National under 15 boys soccer coach. He has coached clubs like Kiglon, Eagles and Underhill all former premiership teams and he is a CAF C license holder.^[4]