Cardiff City have sealed an agreement with Tanatswa Nyakuhwa, who has agreed a professional contract after impressing with the younger age groups.
The 18-year-old has been with the Bluebirds since the age of seven and was one of 12 academy graduates who penned a deal with the club on Friday.
“I’m delighted to sign at the Club that I’ve been at for 11 years,” he said. “It’s a proud moment for me and my family. They’ve done a lot for me to get to this point. I want to cement my place in the U21s team and try to impress.”
Born in Wales to Zimbabwean parents, Nyakuhwa has represented Wales at Under 19 level, but can still choose to represent The Warriors, ranked 129th in the world, if he so wishes.
He initially represented Wales during Zimbabwe’s ban from international football, which was lifted in July last year, and it’s believed he is open to representing the African nation.
The young striker has also been attracting attention from top European clubs, as his father, Andrew “Tanaz” Nyakuhwa explained last year.
“Tanatswa has been doing very well in the Welsh junior league playing for the Under 18 Cardiff team,” he said in March 2023. “His meteoric rise into a star he is proving to be has since attracted a stampede from different top European teams. I have no doubt he will scale dizzy heights if he keeps pushing the way he is doing right now.”
Nyakuhwa was one of 12 youngsters who inked deals with the club on Friday. The others were Cody Twose, Joe Thomas, Luey Giles, Troy Perrett, Trey George, Ronan Kpakio, Cole Fleming, Luke Armstrong, Dakarai Mafico, Josh Beecher, and Will Spiers, all of whom will link up with Darren Purse’s U21s squad for the new season.
“It’s a proud day for everyone involved,” said Purse. “We make a huge effort on the day that the players sign their contracts to make it a big experience for them. Some of them have been at the Club since a young age; the hours that they and their families have had to put in, it’s an immensely important day for the player and their families, but also the Club as a whole.”
Nyakuhwa started playing football at the age of three but tragically lost his mother when he was four. He was raised by his father, who is involved in football projects in Newport with Zimbabwe hocket player Robert Muza.
Writer’s View
It’s always nice when young players win a contract with their clubs, but even more so when it is one who has battled adversity to achieve their dream.
The hard work starts now, but as an athletic striker with pace and a keen eye for goal, the attributes are all there for a big career.
His father may have signalled big clubs have kept tabs on his son, but rather than let that sway him, he needs to keep his head down and work hard for the Under 21s.
Who knows, he might just be the next big AFCON breakout star.
