The Sunday News
Ngqwele Dube Sports Correspondent
EMAKHANDENI Legends tourney defending champions Highlanders have declared their readiness to defend the title despite coming with a totally different team to the competition this year. Highlanders Under-18 coach Gift Lunga said the bulk of the players he won the tournament with last year were promoted to the club’s senior team and Division One side but that will be no reason not to retain the trophy. The eight-team tourney, now in its third year has established itself as one of the regular junior tournaments in the Bulawayo Province Junior League and this season it is the season opener and will be held on 26 and 27 March at Emakhandeni Grounds.
Lunga said only three of the history making players remain in the side that won the championship unbeaten scoring 115 goals in the process and also scooped the Legends trophy.
“Although we are getting little training time as a team due to the fact that schools are open I think we should be able to work hard to retain that trophy. It is one of the important competitions in our league and the boys are aware they have to emulate their predecessors and win the tourney. I only have three players from last year’s team, Brighton Ncube, Brighton Makopa and Rufaro Nzwenga with the rest being new players,” he said.
Highlanders will face winners of the qualifying tie between Tsholostho FC and Talen Vision while Bantu Rovers will take on Chicken Inn with Mpumelelo squaring off against Emakhandeni and Santos playing Sabona in the opening round.
The Emakhandeni Legends is organised by former players based in Emakhandeni suburb and is bankrolled by several people based outside the country.
Zifa Bulawayo Province board member Mkhululi Mthunzi said they invited Tsholotsho to give the young players a chance to interact with their counterparts from the province. The tournament’s theme this year is “Fighting crime using the power of football” which is aimed at encouraging youth to find something productive to do and not be pushed into illegal activities by peer pressure.
“Peer pressure is real at the age of 18 and we believe focusing on fighting crime through the game will ensure more youngsters involve themselves in constructive activities that steer away from crimes and idleness,’’ said Mthunzi.
Former footballer and one of the organisers of the tournament Charles Wadawu said they were happy to see the competition grow in scope and attracting more people.
He said they were happy to keep young players off the streets with tourney and contribute to the grooming of future stars.
Wadawu urged people to come in their numbers to watch future football stars in action on Saturday. Winners will walk away with a trophy, complete kit with two footballs and 22 gold medals while runners up will be awarded two balls and silver medals while there are also individual medals for goalkeeper and player of the tournament and top goal scorer.
