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ISSA Sadiki; remember this name because it is one for the future.
The 12-year-old Sadiki finished as the top goal scorer with four goals and was voted the man-of-the-tournament at the VW Junior Masters competition at Rufaro Stadium last weekend.
The Kuwangira Grade Seven pupil in Highfield starred for his side High Glen District before Chitungwiza eliminated them in the semi-finals on penalties.
Sadiki was eventually selected to be part of the 16-boy squad that would represent Zimbabwe at the World VW Junior Masters in Madrid, Spain in May.
In Spain the youngsters would have an opportunity to meet the star-studded Real Madrid football squad.
Standardsport tracked down the young aspiring footballer and all he could talk about was his delight in going to Spain for the finals.
“At the moment I still cannot believe that I will be flying on a plane going to Spain. I am so happy that I cannot wait for May,” Sadiki said.
The 12-year-old was always destined for greatness because he was born in a family that has produced football stars.
His elder brother Ali Sadiki (21) is the star player for Zimbabwean champions Gunners and has been a revelation since joining the club last season.
Another of the Sadiki siblings, Takunda (19) is a Zimbabwe Under 20 international and is on the books of Division One side DSTV Rangers.
Their cousin Brian Mapfumo is a former Zimbabwe Under 17 and 20 captain who plays for premiership side Monomotapa.
It does not end there because the Sadikis are also cousins to Noah, Itai and Tapuwa Kapini.
Noah and Itai were part of the Black Aces championship winning squad in 1992.
Tapuwa Kapini is the current Zimbabwe Warriors and South Africa’s Platinum Stars first choice goalkeeper.
With such role models in the family to look up to Issa is one young player who is destined to reach the pinnacle of the game.
VW Junior Masters Africa coordinator Ryan Paterson said: “I definitely think Issa has the potential to be a professional player one day, and the Volkswagen Junior Masters is a great opportunity for him to showcase his skills against the best players in his age group throughout the world.
“It is our intention to give the boy every opportunity to become a professional player, and this will start with his enrolment into Edzai Kasinauyo’s academy leading up to the Junior Masters World Finals in Madrid, Spain from May 5 to 10.”
The VW Junior Masters is an international youth tournament that seeks to give opportunities for Under 13 children around the world to realise their dreams of becoming professional footballers.
BY NIGEL MATONGORERE
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