The Sunday News
Mehluli Sibanda, Senior Sports Reporter
SCHOOLS might be on a break after a sport filled second term but that will not stop six teams from eight educational institutions from taking to the soccer fields at Milton High School for the annual Dumisani Foundation Under-16 tournament final day of matches on Tuesday.
Milton and Mtshabezi will clash in the boys’ final. Having struggled in the previous two editions, Milton, coached by Tendai Machawira finally found the winning formula to top the four-team log with 13 points, secured from four wins and one draw. Mtshabezi finished second with 10 points,
Entumbane were third while Gifford, champions in 2015 and 2016 ended at the bottom of the log. This was after two round robin tournaments played at Milton and Entumbane.
Guest schools, Donkwe-Donkwe from Kezi together with Dlamini of Tsholotsho will join Entumbane and Gifford in a round robin to determine the team to finish in third place. A first since the tournament was launched in 2015 will see girls teams from Entumbane and Mtshabezi go up against each other in what is a curtain raiser for the match between Milton and Mtshabezi.
University of Zimbabwe trained United Kingdom based English teacher Dumisani “Zifa” Ndlovu is the brains behind the tournament. Ndlovu learnt at Gifford as well as Mtshabezi and went on to teach at Entumbane for four years prior to heading off to UK in 2000.
A former UZ and Black Mambas winger, Ndlovu is in the country for the final day of this year’s competition. He said he was happy with the way things are going with the tournament having received sponsorship from Ezimtech, a company owned by Nkosinathi Zvimba, a Zimbabwe based in the UK as well as from Souvlaki Restaurant and Bar, run by another local based in England, Nkosiyazi Maphenduka.
“Our tournament has grown bigger, this year we have six schools from the four last year. The whole project is going well, I have twinned up with two Zimbabweans based in the UK who are helping with sponsorship. Trophies have been donated by Ezimtech and Souvlaki,’’ said Ndlovu.
Trophies and medals are in store for the boys and girls winners of the final matches while all the eight teams will get full playing uniforms sourced by Ndlovu. There will also be individual accolades for the player of the tournament, most outstanding goalkeeper, top goal scorer as well as the best coach.
Acting Bulawayo deputy provincial educational director secondary and non-formal education Thabani Sibanda will be the guest of honour.
While Ndlovu spends the bulk of the time in the UK, locally based volunteers of the Foundation, Arthur Mpuli, Gibson Mpala and Juliet Magwali ensure that the tournament runs smoothly.
The first final of the tournament was played at Mtshabezi in 2015 with Gifford being the venue of last year’s concluding event.
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