The Sunday News
A SMALL bi-annual soccer tourney will culminate in a foundation for professional football in Binga, Matabeleland North.
Organisers of the Golden Boot football tournament have vowed that what started as a pastime activity will soon see them building a team that will one day fight for top honours in the country’s Premier Soccer League.
The tourney, which is on today, was launched last year and takes place twice a year, drawing teams from all over the district. Local chiefs and officials from the Binga Rural District Council will also be in attendance. This year Chief Charles Saba will be the guest of honour.
Transistor Sibanda one of the organisers of the tournament said they started the tournament last year after realising the zeal people in the district had for football. He said in the initial year they approached business people in the district who pledged various amounts for the prize money.
“What is happening now is that the winners will get a full kit and some prize money which we are still discussing as businesspeople are still forwarding their pledges. We are especially lucky because all the people we have approached have vowed to support us. To date we have managed to register 20 teams from all over the district with four women’s teams and an over-50 team,” said Sibanda.
He said it was their wish that by November when the tournament is held again, it would be bigger and better.
One of the main sponsors of the tournament Jonathan Mackenzie who is also a tour operator said there was a need for more businesspeople to come on board as this was a way of uplifting the district.
