The Sunday News
Muzingaye Ncube
TILUS Supermarket has given an assurance that they will continue supporting sport development in schools through sponsoring basketball and soccer tournaments as long as the economic situation is viable and allows them to give back to the community.
This comes after they bankrolled an eight schools invitational Under-20 soccer tournament a fortnight ago at Gifford High School, which was won by Mpopoma High School after edging the host school 4-3 on penalties in the finals after the match had ended 1-1 in regulation time.
Mpopoma, who got their goal in the first half of the finals through Amos Ncube who tapped in from close range, before Gifford’s impressive striker Thabiso Mabaisa’s last minute equaliser in the second half to force the game into a penalty shootout.
In the shootouts Gifford missed two of their first spot kicks while Mpopoma missed the first but managed to convert all the other four.
However, the winners were without the services of Denzel Khumalo who also turns out for Premiership side Bantu Rovers as he was disqualified for being under age according to the Nash rules.
Winners walked away with a trophy, Puma soccer ball, T-shirts and Puma branded kit, the losing finalists also got a soccer kit and a trophy. All the eight participating schools got a token of appreciation in the form of a Puma match ball, courtesy of sponsors Tilus Supermarket.
The eight schools at the tournament were Magwegwe, Pumula, Mpopoma, Mzilikazi, St Columbus, Milton, host school, Gifford, and Luveve.
“We envision to sponsor yet another big event next year, if our marketing budget permits and the economic climate is a fruitful one,” said Priscilla Lambert, Tilus Supermarket marketing manager.
Lambert said they launched the tournament with the intention to help schoolchildren develop their skills and this year’s event was part and parcel of the company’s social responsibility programmes.
“This was our second tournament after we sponsored another schools tournament in basketball in May as a way of thanking the community which has supported us through thick and thin,” she said, adding that they were satisfied with the organisation of the schools that took part in the inaugural event.
“In terms of organisation the schools did very well, we had an excellent tournament. We also saw traditional rivalries with a high level of competition among the youngsters, the competitiveness was very impressive to see.
“We would also like to congratulate the winners Mpopoma High School and I was happy for the hosts (Gifford) because they managed to get into the finals and get the kit that coincided with their school colours, maroon,” she said.
She challenged other companies to consider funding children’s sporting activities as it helps them (children) develop their skills and realise their dreams in sports, since sport was just more than a recreation but a tool for development.
Lambert said the tournaments were a platform for youngsters to showcase their talents and probably get the chance to be identified by coaches from big clubs in different disciplines.
Lambert said it was Tilus’ wish to live up to their slogan and remain a friend for life to the community that it works with.
The Tilus Supermarket marketing manager encouraged parents to rally behind their children in sports, adding that in future it would be good to have parents as well supporting their children during such tournaments.
For Mpopoma it was a second trophy for the season and it has cemented their status as the emerging powerhouse in Bulawayo schools soccer. In their first trophy, yet another inaugural Southern Region Orap Zenzele Chevrolet “World Cup’’ played at the same venue, they dispatched Tekwane High School 3-0 in the final with goals from Amos Ncube (brace) and Bantu Rovers starlet Denzel Khumalo.
At the Gifford Tilus Invitational Under-20 soccer tournament, there were individual prizes that included the goalkeeper of the tournament which went to Ishmael Nyathi of Gifford who conceded one goal in the finals, top goal scorer Musa Phiri of Mpopoma who netted five goals and coach of the tournament, Babson Ngwenya also from Mpopoma.
