Agatha Sheneti Academy founder Regis Dzenga has laid out ambitious plans to kick-start a similar but more advanced junior soccer development project in partnership with Harare public schools Prince Edward and Selbourne Routledge.

The project, a brainchild of Dzenga’s, will be known as Academy 2063.

It will be housed at Princess Fields, the three semi-detached PE soccer pitches, where construction of buildings to be used to accommodate interns is set to commence in the next few months.

Speaking at the launch ceremony held at the PE Cricket Pavilion on Thursday afternoon, Dzenga announced that 2063 will begin its operations in January next year.

“Prince Edward has for years been developing quality athletes that have gone on to represent the country at international events across all levels. This new academy will make PE the centre for preparing players who will compete globally,’’ said Dzenga.

The now-defunct ASA also produced high-calibre players like Onesimo Bhasera, Hardlife Zvirekwi and Edward Sadomba, using existing Mt Pleasant High facilities but Dzenga said Academy 2063 will add new infrastructure to the century-old Prince Edward School.

“We are working with several partners to set up world-class infrastructure at the Princess Fields because we want to develop and churn out well-trained student athletes who will easily fit into global systems when they pursue sports or academics on scholarship abroad.’’

He mentioned former Manchester City striker and Warriors captain Benjani Mwaruwari and former PE basketball captain Blessing Rugara among the project partners. Rugara was also the founding chairman of the Black Coaches Association in the United States and is presently CEO of Circle Capital (SA).

Dr Agrippah Sora, the PE headmaster, expressed gratitude for the choice of his school as the project centre and said he hoped the venture would outlive its founders.

“We envisage this project to be long-lived and to outlive not only allof us here but also our respective successors in our different endeavours. It is going to assist in talent identification and high-performance training of atheletes,’’ said Sora.

Pupils will be enrolled from primary school which they will attend at PE’s adjacent neighbor Selbourne Routledge from where they would proceed to high school across Rekayi Tangwena Road at Prince Edward. They will major in soccer alternating with academic subjects.

The 2063 graduates are expected to play professionally within and outside the country, or either take up academic-aligned careers afterwards.

PE sports director Tawanda Jimu added his own words saying the project will dovetail with the nation’s vision for Qatar 2022.

“We are looking at the playere involved being groomed to help the country qualify for the Fifa World Cup in Qatar in2022,’’ said Jimu.

The ceremony was also attended by Selborune Routledge Primary School headmistress Mrs Katena, Academy 2063 administrator Patson Ndabambi and PE soccer coach Norman Taruvinga.