The Sunday News
Mehluli Sibanda, Senior Sports Reporter
MARVELOUS Nakamba Foundation Under-17 football tournament directorate Nduduzo Sibanda has explained that the decision to hold the tournament launch in Harare last Thursday was more for commercial reasons.
The official launch was held in Borrowdale, Harare. Questions were being asked as to how a tournament that is taking place in Bulawayo can be launched in Harare. Sibanda has shed light on that decision, stating that Bulawayo is the biggest beneficiary since the tournament is happening in the City of Kings where the project is also based.
At the launch, the eight kits that would be used at the tournament were unveiled. All the eight teams are also getting full tracksuits for 20 people for each team.
Nduduzo Sibanda
“We know people have different sentiments as to why the launch was done in Harare, it had more to do with corporate goodwill. The big cake is the tournament that will be played on Saturday and Sunday. Bulawayo is the biggest beneficiary from this since the project is based in Bulawayo, we just had a ground breaking ceremony. It was just the launch of the 2022 of the tournament, what we did extra was to unveil the kits,’’ Sibanda said.
Having the launch in Harare, according to Sibanda assisted the foundation to secure partners who will ensure the smooth running of the tournament.
“We are unveiling our partners during the week, that event assisted us to find partners that will come on board on our social responsibility.”
On top of the football, more entertainment is being planned for the fans who will come out to the White City Stadium Main and B-arenas for the two-day event. “During the week we will share programmes of activity, we are trying to spice it up, Bulawayo stands to gain more. This is the inaugural tournament, we will try to rotate provinces in years to come,’’ said Sibanda.
White City Stadium.
Highlanders have been drawn in the same group as Njube Spurs, Dynamos and Majesa Academy while the other group has Chicken Inn, Bulawayo City, Ajax Hotspurs as well as Hwange Dynamo.
At the launch held in Harare, Nakamba’s Aston Villa shirt was auctioned for US$1 000.
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