The Shield-Chelsea talent search will kick-off in Bulawayo at Gifford High School on Saturday 19 May.

The initiative is sponsored by Unilever under the Shield deodorant brand and will see one lucky Zimbabwean getting a once in a lifetime opportunity of flying to London, England.

The individual will join other winners from South Africa, Kenya, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Zambia and Nigeria, and train at the world-class training ground with Chelsea legends.

“I urge all youths in Bulawayo aged 18-25 to come to Gifford High School on Saturday. We are still accepting entries into the competition,” Shield brand manager Susan Luneta said.

“We want to give every youth a chance and those who didn’t get an opportunity to enter via the SMS, Whatsapp and USSD platforms can come on the day of the trials.

“All they need to do is to bring with them a shield product as this will be a requirement to enter. The trials will start at 7: 00 am.”

Four local football coaches who include, former Warriors gaffer Kalisto Pasuwa, Cosmas ‘Tsano’ Zulu, Naison Mchekela and Alois Bunjura will oversee the try-outs.

A total of 15 youths will be selected from Bulawayo to join another group of 15 players from Harare. The 30-member squad will then go to a one-week boot camp session in July.

After the boot camp, three coaches from Chelsea Football Club will assess the players in Harare on the 25th and pick the final winner.

Meanwhile, the Harare trials will be held on 2 June and are open to all Zimbabwean citizens aged 18-25 years.