The Sunday News
Mehluli Sibanda, Senior Sports Reporter
A football feast is on at Mtshabezi High School when the final fixtures of the Dumisani Foundation games take place tomorrow.
Mtshabezi, Gifford, Milton and Entumbane are the schools part of the competition which is now in its fifth year. Entumbane and Mtshabezi also have their girls being part of the action. All the teams taking part are given playing uniforms with other accolades in store for those who do well.
Heading into the final round of fixtures, Gifford are on top of the boys log with 17 points, secured from five wins and two draws. The Nathan Tshuma-coached Stingers have been beaten twice. Entumbane are second on the log with 13 points, followed by Milton on 10 while Mtshabezi are at the bottom with eight.
The final round of fixture is taking place at Mtshabezi tomorrow where the team that finishes on top in the round robin will be declared champions. While the boys’ teams will play three matches each on the day, the Mtshabezi and Entumbane girls are also set to meet on the same day.
United Kingdom-based school teacher, Dumisani Ndlovu, the man behind the initiative is in the country for the ultimate round of matches. Also in Zimbabwe is his young brother Nkosiyazi Moyo, the owner of Souvlaki Restaurant and Bar who is one of the sponsors. Another UK-based bankroller, Nkosinathi Zvimba, the director of eZimtech Distributors Ltd will not be present at this year’s finals due to other commitments.
Ndlovu, known as Zifa during his football playing days at the University of Zimbabwe stated that his dream is to engage young people and make available platforms for them to realise their full potential.
“Our vision is about engaging young people and making sure that we create platforms, avenues for them to engage, to grow, to have positive mindsets,’’ Ndlovu said.
While Ndlovu is the brains behind the project, he has been receiving tremendous support from fellow Zimbabweans based in the UK. Such is the kind of backing that basketball will be part of the games this year after a former Mtshabezi teacher now based in the UK decided to sponsor that.
“We are a charitable organisation, I have sponsors, Zimbabwean guys who run businesses in the UK, these are the guys who have given me funding and equipment so that I can achieve this vision. I’ve got a vision, I believe there is strength in numbers, in the fifth edition we have integrated basketball, I have a guy in the UK who used to be a teacher at Mtshabezi who is prepared to sponsor basketball as part of the foundation games,’’ he said.
Moyo is looking forward to the fiesta which is expected to be well attended since this year’s final since it is taking place when schools are open.
“I have been on the go with the Dumisani Foundation, providing all the necessary things and everything needed. We come here every year to support the finals, I have been told that this year it’s going to be some sort of festival since the schools are open,’’ Moyo said.
A team of dedicated local-based volunteers has been working hard to ensure that all is in place in Ndlovu’s absence. Arthur Mpuli, Gibson Mpala and Juliet Magwali are the people who steer the ship when Ndlovu is in UK.
Entumbane had their boys and girls being crowned champions in last year’s edition whose final fixtures also took place at Mtshabezi. The Entumbane girls clobbered Mtshabezi 7-0 while the boys defeated the same school 4-3 on penalties with the match having concluded 1-1 in normal time. Veteran football administrator Ndumiso Gumede was the guest of honour in last year’s finals. Gumede will be once again present together with Talen Vision coach Mkhuphali Masuku.
