Marvelous Nakamba Leads Fight Against Drug Abuse Through Njube Spurs Project

Zimbabwe national football team captain Marvelous Nakamba is using his influence beyond the pitch to champion the fight against drug abuse through Njube Spurs, a junior team from his childhood neighborhood in Bulawayo.

Nakamba has been sponsoring the club by providing kits, match balls, and logistical support. His father, Anthony Nakamba, is often seen at the Desert home ground where the team plays its matches. The project has become a point of pride not only for the community but also for the midfielder himself.

The Spurs’ Under-17 team has given Nakamba even more enthusiasm for the initiative, as they currently lead the ZIFA Bulawayo Junior League with 56 points, eight ahead of second-placed Tigers FC, with six matches left to play.

Speaking from the UK, where he plays for English side Luton Town, Nakamba expressed his delight at the team’s progress.

“It’s a joyful thing to see Spur’s Under-17s performing well. This is the age where most youths tend to take drugs, but these boys are focused on football. That focus has kept them off the streets, away from drug abuse and other illicit activities. I’m proud of the Njube Spurs boys and their coaches. The whole project is inspiring. It’s not easy to top the log, especially in the juniors’ league where there’s so much competition,” he said.

Nakamba has supported the team consistently. In July 2024, through the Marvelous Nakamba Foundation, he donated four sets of kits and a set of soccer balls to the club.

Club chairperson Trust Chizunza praised the gesture, saying, “We would like to thank Marvelous Nakamba for this gesture. This is something done from deep down someone’s heart. Giving back to the community shows true commitment. The more the project runs, the more our youths shy away from drugs.”

Anthony Nakamba also highlighted the impact of the initiative. “Marvelous grew up here in Njube and football has changed his life. My wish is to see another Marvelous come out of Njube,” he said.

Nakamba, who attended Helemu Primary and Njube High School, has big dreams for the future of the club. He hopes to see it grow into a major football institution, citing the example of Scottland FC, which has already built a Premier Soccer League team, a developmental side, and an academy.

“Honestly, Scott (Sakupwanya) is doing a great job back home. The standards of our local football are changing. Look at the signings, the salaries being reported, the renovation of Mabvuku Stadium and the building of Villas for players and staff, he is clearly committed. It’s also my wish that one day Njube Spurs becomes as big as that,” said Nakamba, who started his professional career at Bantu Rovers.

His foundation has already produced results. In 2021, he hosted an Under-17 tournament in Bulawayo which was won by Majesa Academy. The Player of the Tournament, Prosper Padera, went on to secure a move to Finland and has since broken into the Zimbabwe national team, playing alongside Nakamba during recent international fixtures against Benin and Rwanda.

Nakamba confirmed that more support is on the way. “There is a container with kits, sets of balls and other football equipment that I will send to Zimbabwe soon. It will be distributed among all age groups at Njube Spurs,” he revealed.

Through Njube Spurs, Nakamba is creating opportunities for young people to focus on football and avoid the trap of drug abuse, proving that his commitment to the game extends far beyond his professional career.