The Sunday News
Mehluli Sibanda, Senior Sports Reporter
BADALA Business Centre in Inyathi is expected to come alive today when four teams go to battle in a New Year’s Day football tournament funded by a South Africa-based businessman Khumbulani Moyo.
Four teams are lined up for the annual event, these being defending champions Shooting Stars, Bubi, Inyathi Rovers and Inyathi Pirates. The sides will play in the semi-finals with those victorious in the last four to clash in the final.
According to the draw conducted on Boxing Day, the first game is between Inyathi Rovers and Inyathi Pirates while last year’s winners Shooting Stars play against Bubi, a team funded by the tournament sponsor. Former Tsholotsho striker Sijabuliso Simango who was at Mutare City Rovers in 2016 turns out for Bubi. Inyathi Pirates beat Black Swallows 4-2 in extra time on 22 December in a play-off to determine the fourth team for today.
Moyo said trophies, medals and cash prizes are in store for all participating teams. Some legends as well as former players of the game will get to play as curtain-raisers ahead of the final match of the day.
Some of the high profile individuals expected to attend the tournament are Bubi Member of Parliament Clifford Sibanda, Highlanders striker Prince Dube, Canada-based former AmaZulu and Warriors goalkeeper Dominic Sithole, veteran football administrator Ndumiso Gumede and Mochudi Centre Chiefs coach Bongani Mafu. Sithole will sponsor the prizes for the best goalkeeper as well as outstanding player on the day.
With a total sponsorship of $1 000 provided by Moyo, the event has been held every New Year’s Day since 2013. Moyo said the reason for holding the tournament is to keep youths from the area away from alcohol and drug abuse while at the same time try to discover new talent.
“We just want to unearth new talent, in the past we have had players such as Prince Dube coming out of this tournament. The whole idea is to make sure that young people are kept busy with the sport because we have discovered that most of them will be busy with drugs and alcohol at this time of the year. We want them to see value in sport,’’ said Moyo.
Last year Dube turned out for Shooting Stars, a club where he developed his football skills under Admos Ncube while he was at Somvubu Secondary School. This year, Dube cannot take part in the tournament since he has a contract with Highlanders.
Moyo who is also the Highlanders South Africa Supporters Chapter secretary is into the construction business in the neighbouring country. He owns Gauteng Hut Construction which employs 34 people, most of them Zimbabweans. —
@Mdawini_29
