A Teenager Gunning for Professional Football

The Citizen (Dar es Salaam)

Fadhil Iddy

24 April 2011

At just a tender age of 16 years, John Gunda, a Form 2 student at Esacs Academy in Dar es Salaam who plays as a winger, has a strong self-belief that one day he will be a professional football player.

“Though Tanzanian soccer players face many challenges, I’m optimistic that if abiding by what one believes, anybody can be somebody in this world. So though we from least developed countries have small chance of succeeding yet the small opportunity can help you to grow,” he says with confidence.

This aspiring star spends most of his time watching major football leagues. He says that Arjen Robben who plays for Bayern Munich in the ‘Bundesliga’ has been his source of insopiration. Though often classified as a forward, he usually plays behind the forwards (inside position) as a winger, and he is also known for his dribbling skills.

He is the Netherlands national team player and has featured in Euro 2004 and 2008 as well as the 2006 and 2010 World Cup competitions. “This is what I want people to take, though we live in the continent where football development is still at its infant stage. However, due to technological advancement we have a chance of learning skills through televisions,” he says. John, who practises at Gymkhana Club with other young players, has developed strong self-discipline, always attending evening practice at the club.

“No success without hard work and commitment. This is a message that we all need to understand while we are striving to achieve our ambitions,” he said.Gyman, his friend and teammate, is happy to play with John. “John is a good player. He always encourage us not to give upon our dreams,” he said.

At the Gymkhana Football Club, John and his teammates have the opportunity to share experiences and help each other grow. So the mutual relationship, has made the players to have closer targets, which if carefully nurtured would ensure that they will achieve their dream.

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