THERE is seemingly no end to the growing number of football prodigies with Zimbabwean roots emerging in England.
\nAfter the emergence of several talented players in England in recent years, some of whom have gone on to feature for the Warriors, the Zimbabwean diaspora looks to have unearthed another gem in teenager Tawanda Chirewa.<\/p>\n
Sixteen-year-old Chirewa has been making waves in England after becoming the second youngest player in the history of English League One side Ipswich Town to feature for the club after making his professional debut at Colchester in the EFL Trophy two months ago.<\/p>\n
The Essex-based box-to-box midfielder had to get permission from his school in Shenfield to feature in the EFL Trophy as he came on as a late substitute in the match which Ipswich lost 1-0.<\/p>\n
Despite the defeat, it was Chirewa who was making all the headlines after the match. At 16 years and 31 days old, the highly-rated young Zimbabwean became Ipswich Town\u2019s second youngest player ever behind Crystal Palace striker Connor Wickham, who made his debut for Ipswich at 16 years 11 days in 2009.<\/p>\n
After his historic late cameo, Chirewa earned praises from Ipswich Town manager Paul Lambert.<\/p>\n
Lambert had revealed in the build-up to the game that he would be giving a handful of young players an opportunity in the first team, but few would have been aware of Chirewa when the Ipswich side was announced.<\/p>\n
Asked what he liked about Chirewa, who lives in Shenfield, but qualifies to play international football for Zimbabwe, Lambert was full of admiration for the young prodigy.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe looks younger than 16!\u201d joked Lambert. \u201cWe had to get permission from his school to play, I think it\u2019s a great story.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve just seen loads of things in him. It\u2019s great for him. He looks younger than 16 when you talk to him. He\u2019s not frightened of the ball, that\u2019s for sure. He keeps taking the ball, along with Gibbo (Liam Gibbs), he keeps taking the ball, there\u2019s no fear factor in their game. You need somebody to throw them in. I\u2019m happy, I\u2019m really, really happy with what\u2019s happened.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lambert, whose side is chasing promotion to the English Championship, says he has watched the likes of Chirewa for the team\u2019s academy side at Playford Road.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, I\u2019ve seen them train, I\u2019ve seen them play, the lads at night. While you\u2019re tucked up in your bed I\u2019m watching the kids train. The academy deserves great credit for the kids that are coming through. As I\u2019ve said before, you never, ever know. But they\u2019ve got ability, that\u2019s for sure.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lambert has a history of playing young players at his previous clubs and he insisted it wasn\u2019t a gamble giving them their chance that evening.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not a punt; it\u2019s not a risk because I know they can do it. I know they can handle the ball,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
THERE is seemingly no end to the growing number of football prodigies with Zimbabwean roots emerging in England. After the emergence of several talented players in England in recent years, some of whom have gone on to feature for the Warriors, the Zimbabwean diaspora looks to have unearthed another gem in teenager Tawanda Chirewa. Sixteen-year-old […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":84,"featured_media":3785,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,4],"tags":[1265,128],"class_list":{"0":"post-18281","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-all-news","8":"category-community","9":"tag-chirewa","10":"tag-community"},"yoast_head":"\n