Farai Dhliwayo, Calum English-Brown and Augustine Banhire tell us about their visit to train with coaches at Finch Farm, meeting two stars of Everton’s first team, and how the International Academy is benefitting Legends Football Academy Zimbabwe...
Firstly, tell us about your week training at Finch Farm. What were the biggest takeaways for you?
CEB: First of all, the training was an eye opener because of the intensity that [Everton coaches] Dom and Sean want you to work at. The intricacy of the drills and the detail was really something! There was a lot of extra thinking going on with the drills and I will definitely use this information going forward and benefit from what I’ve learned.
AB: I agree about the intensity! For me, the biggest thing was pushing myself and, the work you do with Dom and Sean, it just helps you to know that going forward you are capable of doing things you probably thought you weren’t. The attention to detail and the thought processes they teach you, it makes you see the levels you can go to.
You got to meet Idrissa Gana Gueye and Arnaut Danjuma and talk to them about your experience at Finch Farm. How was that?
AB: I really enjoyed it. To see well-known players like that and then to see how humble they are, how they see you eye to eye, not looking down to you, just seeing you for who you are… it’s something special. That humility was something we noticed throughout the week, along with the support we received from everyone. It’s something I will carry with me for a long, long time.
Farai, how beneficial was it for you to see how operations at Finch Farm work and what of that can you take back to Legends Football Academy Zimbabwe?
FD: Very beneficial. The International team have been great – Paddy, Sean, Dom, Gustavo and Will are all working well for us and each other. We watch Everton and the Premier League every week in Zimbabwe, so being able to work together like this, experiencing the quality in the coaching and seeing everything up close is very important for us. Even though we have only been able to bring a few of us over this time, we are taking something back to hundreds of other young players in Africa.
Legends became an affiliate of Everton in 2023. How has it been for you so far?
FD: Well, football is the best language in the world and, when I speak with Paddy and Sean, we have good discussions. They are always full of enthusiasm and energy and, by seeing them in person at Finch Farm, it shows how committed they are to ensuring that we can develop our players and have better talents come out of Zimbabwe in future. I feel like I can trust and rely on them for the things that I need and, in the long run, I think the proof is going to be in the better players we are producing at Legends.
Many of our other affiliates are set to visit us in 2024. Based on your experience, what would you say to them?
AB: I would say definitely come in with an open mind and have a growth mindset. As much as you are here to play football, you are here to learn and take in so much invaluable information that you won’t get anywhere else. Also, I’d say to be open to aspects and opportunities away from the football pitch. We went out and saw some of the community work Everton do - and what we saw and learned definitely added to the experience.
Finally Farai, how do you hope the relationship with Everton will grow going forward?
FD: We are having good talks all the time. If we can start to create pathways where young and promising players can get a chance to build themselves up, if we can give them role models to follow, then who knows? Not everyone will get to the end of the pathway but the most talented might [and go to have a career in football]. We’ll look at how we can help those players maximise their potential because we know that one success can lead to another.
