PRETORIA – Zimbabwean businessman Peter Chiveso is making waves in South Africa with his ambitious football project, Pretoria Athletic FC. Based in Mzansi, Chiveso starts each day with a focused plan for his club, a project he is deeply rooted in. He treats the project as his life’s work. Standing on the touchline of several training pitches, he often reflects on how to get the best out of his players. He does this with the help of his coaching team, which includes former Dynamos star Stanley Maruza. The phrase “We live football, eat football, and dream football” perfectly suits well with Chiveso’s current lifestyle in Mzansi. “Pretoria Athletic FC is a project I cherish with all my heart. As chairman of the club, there are times I can’t even sleep because I’m thinking about it,” Chiveso shared. The academy currently has nearly 200 young players enrolled, including Tshepo Junior Masilela, the son of former South African international Tshepo Masilela. Unlike his father, who was known for his defensive skills but also played in midfield, the 10-year-old Tsepo Junior plays as a forward in the under-11 team. Chiveso recently celebrated his under-11 and under-15 teams’ success during South Africa’s Youth Day tournaments. The under-11s clinched the Mamelodi Local Football Association (MALFA) title, while the under-15s won the Youth Cup. Despite the triumphs, Chiveso emphasised that the focus remains on development rather than winning. “It’s not easy running a project involving children as young as five. I urge parents to be patient. “Of course, we all want to see our kids lift trophies, but right now, it’s about building their technique and character,” he said. “Winning is a great motivator, but we are more concerned about nurturing these players properly.” Chiveso also highlighted some of the challenges his academy faces, particularly the competition from well established clubs like Mamelodi Sundowns and the University of Pretoria (AmaTuks), whom without doubt have better facilities. “Often, we get players at age six or seven, but once they turn 15, parents move them to bigger clubs. While understandable, this sometimes disrupts the child’s development, especially if the transition isn’t well managed,” Chiveso added. Pretoria Athletic FC also conducts European tours, the most recent being to Spain. These tours are meant to give the young talents international exposure. The club includes several Zimbabwean players and Chiveso is actively recruiting from his homeland. He recently invited 10 players aged between 16 and 20 from Mike Temwanjira’s Academy in Harare for trials. Temwanjira, a former CAPS United striker with European experience, accompanied the players. Out of the 10, four, including a goalkeeper, impressed Chiveso and are expected to join the club in September, pending the completion of their permit processes. Chiveso is not just building a football club, but a legacy. Meanwhile, Chiveso is also the owner of Looks Sportswear, a brand that previously supplied kits and apparel to giants Highlanders and Dynamos recently. Currently, Looks are supplying Premier Soccer League reigning champions Simba Bhora, Manica Diamonds and GreenFuel.