Marvelous Nakamba was so good as a teenager that he earned his life-changing move from Africa to Europe despite playing in a make-or-break youth-team tournament while battling the flu.



It can be revealed that Aston Villa’s in-form summer signing was spotted playing for Bantu Rovers at the 2012 Dallas Cup in the United States by a scout who convinced French side AS Nancy to offer him a breakthrough.



But that’s only half the story as the Zimbabwean side — the first African team to enter the under-19 competition in 20 years — faced exasperating difficulties that almost ended their participation.



Visa complications initially prevented Bantu Rovers from competing but co-owner Peter Grieve, an American investor who had worked tirelessly to secure their entry, made the magic happen and that allowed Nakamba, albeit a shadow of himself in the contest because of illness, to realise his dreams.



“Marvelous was the best player in our...