The Sunday News
Mehluli Sibanda, Senior Sports Reporter
MILTON High School is expected to come alive on Wednesday when the Scripture Union holds the Anti-Alcohol and Substance Abuse Games.
Football, tag rugby, volleyball and basketball are the sporting activities that have been lined up on Africa Day. Raj Modi, the Deputy Minister of Industry and Commerce is the guest of honour on a day that also had an anti-substance abuse workshop.
Abraham Mabhena, the Scripture Union’s provincial schools co-ordinator said the event is being championed by Scripture Union but there are organisations that they are working with. It is the second edition after the inaugural event took place in 2017 at Gifford High School with this year’s theme being “Uniting against and substance abuse”.
“It’s a mini Olympics with different sporting disciplines. The whole point is centred on sport, it’s a unifier and a social activity. It’s creating a non-judgemental atmosphere that is conducive for learning especially for young people. People who engage in substance abuse feel judged so sports brings a platform where we can talk about this issue without being judged,’’ said Mabhena.
Chronicle Football Club is one of the 16 teams confirmed for the tournament. According to Mabhena, there has been a huge interest for the football.
Milton High School
It’s a multi-sectoral approach on issues of substance abuse. Our main sport is soccer, it brings everyone together.
Looking at our community as Bulawayo, we find sport in all areas of life, we have got corporates, churches, NGOs, community teams, sporting clubs that are going to participate. For football, we are working with 16 teams, we have got three soccer fields and we are using a round robin,’’ said Mabhena.
Football – Image taken from Shutterstock
Former Highlanders goalkeepers coach, Julius Ndlovu is one of the notable football personalities expected to grace the event. Prizes are lined up for all the sporting disciplines.
“We have prizes that are going to be won on the day, a soccer kit for the winning team, shields, trophies and medals for all the sporting disciplines,’’ he said.
Lots of entertainment has been lined up with some of the artistes to perform on the day being Mzoe7, Zvikomborero “Lil Megaz” Nyamandi, Tawanda Denga, King Royal and Young King. — Follow on Twitter @Mdawini_29
