The Sunday News
Mehluli Sibanda, Senior Sports Reporter
THE pre-season Bulawayo Business Opportunities Twenty20 Cricket tournament has reached the final stage with Bulawayo Athletic Club taking on Emakhandeni at Queens Sports Club this morning.
A knock-out tournament, it involved 12 teams from the Bulawayo Metropolitan Cricket Association as well as schools which played as select sides. It started on 27 August with venues such as BAC, Old Mutual Heath Streak Academy and Queens being used. Queens and Roosters were knocked out at quarter-final stage by the select teams.
Last Sunday saw the semi-finals taking place at BAC. Emakhandeni and BAC defeated the select sides to book a place in the final. The select teams will meet in the third place playoff prior to the final.
Gary Nyumbu, a member of the tournament’s organising committee said it was heartening to see business and sporting codes coming together in Bulawayo. His desire is to see the tournament growing bigger to become the competition that players look forward to during the pre-season.
“For us it’s very encouraging that we can work with business and sporting codes in Bulawayo. We hope to see this event grow to be one of the tournaments to look forward to every year during the pre-season,’’ said Nyumbu.
A trophy is in store for the winners with Nyumbu indicating that they were making efforts to ensure the champions also get rewarded with cash. Individual accolades will be given to the most outstanding players in the tournament.
Some of the sponsors who have made the tournament a success are Titan Law, Nyaradzo, Dulys Motors, Econet and Schweppes. — @Mdawini_29
