Marvelous Nakamba Champions Drug-Free Youth Through Njube Spurs

Zimbabwe Warriors captain Marvelous Nakamba is empowering Bulawayo youth to stay off drugs through Njube Spurs, a grassroots football team that’s transforming lives and inspiring the next generation of athletes (image source)

Zimbabwe Warriors captain Marvelous Nakamba is using football to tackle one of Zimbabwe’s most urgent social crises: drug and substance abuse among young people. Through Njube Spurs, a junior football team based in his childhood neighbourhood in Bulawayo, Nakamba is creating pathways for youth to remain engaged in sport and away from destructive habits.

The project, which he personally sponsors with kits, footballs and logistics, has evolved into more than just a grassroots team — it has become a lifeline for dozens of aspiring players.

At the heart of the initiative is the Spurs Under-17 side, currently topping the ZIFA Bulawayo Junior League with 56 points, eight clear of Tigers FC with six matches left. Their success fills the national skipper with pride.

“It’s a joyful thing to see Spur’s Under-17s performing well,” Nakamba said from his UK base, where he plays for Luton Town. “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.”

Nakamba’s father, Anthony Nakamba, remains a familiar face at Spurs’ home matches at Desert Ground in Njube, reflecting the family’s ongoing connection to the community.“Marvelous grew up here in Njube and football has changed his life,” he said. “My wish is to see another Marvelous come out of Njube.”

The Spurs project builds on years of Nakamba’s investment in youth football. In July 2024, the Marvelous Nakamba Foundation donated four full sets of kits and balls to the team — a gesture club chairperson Trust Chizunza described as “something done from deep down someone’s heart.”

“Giving back to the community shows true commitment,” Chizunza said. “The more the project runs, the more our youths shy away from drugs.”

Nakamba understands how football can open doors. In 2021, his foundation hosted an Under-17 tournament in Bulawayo that spotlighted rising stars. One standout, Prosper Padera, signed for a Finnish club and recently debuted for the Zimbabwe Warriors, lining up alongside Nakamba in international duty.

“For many in Njube, this proves the transformative power of grassroots football,” Nakamba said. “From a dusty pitch in Bulawayo to the national team — if one can do it, more can follow.”

Looking ahead, Nakamba wants Spurs to grow beyond survival. Inspired by businessman Scott Sakupwanya’s Scottland FC, he envisions Njube Spurs evolving into a professional club with an academy and Premier Soccer League status.

“Scott is doing a great job back home — look at the salaries, the signings, and stadium projects,” Nakamba said. “It’s also my wish that one day Njube Spurs becomes as big as that.”

He is currently preparing another shipment of football gear for Spurs’ various age groups. “There’s a container with kits, balls and equipment I will send to Zimbabwe soon,” he revealed.

For now, the team’s achievements offer a beacon of hope. In a city where drug abuse has derailed many young lives, Njube Spurs’ success shows how structure, mentorship and opportunity can serve as powerful antidotes to addiction. As the players chase silverware, they are proving Nakamba right — discipline, teamwork and ambition can change lives both on and off the pitch.