The Sunday News
Muzingaye Ncube
A FORTNIGHT ago soccer enthusiasts in Bulawayo witnessed the inaugural Southern Region Orap Zenzele Chevrolet “World Cup’’ under-20 tournament at Gifford High School that brought together 14 secondary schools, ministers, Zifa officials, coaches and soccer fans from all walks of life to celebrate the event that was designed to coincide with the ongoing World Cup tournament in Brazil.
The Orap Zenzele Chevrolet Cup’s aims are to empower and inspire young people to see sport as more than just recreation but a tool for development.
Despite tough economic times prevailing in the country, the organisers believe an investment in young people was never a price too heavy to pay as youths were the future of sport.
General Motors Corporation of the USA, through its Chevrolet brand are giving away 1,5 million balls worldwide as part of their commitment to encourage the youth to play sport and be active. In Zimbabwe, Orap in partnership with Auto World Bulawayo are distributing balls to schools, clubs and other organisations throughout the country.
Among the high profile politicians who attended the Gifford event were the Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, Andrew Langa, his deputy Tabeth Kanengoni-Malinga and the Minister of Small and Medium Enterprises and Co-operative Development, Sithembiso Nyoni.
The programme, launched last year at White City Stadium by Orap through the Shooting Education and Development (SHED) initiative, together with their partners Auto World Chevrolet brand was also attended by the Highlanders technical team that comprised head coach Kelvin Kaindu, Majaha Ndlovu (fitness trainer), Mark Mathe (assistant coach), Peter Nkomo (goalkeepers coach) and the team manager, Willard Khumalo.
Also present at the tournament was Matabeleland South Sports and Recreation Commission provincial co-ordinator Lifa Mpofu, Zifa Southern Region chairman Musa Mandaza, Zifa Bulawayo Province boss Washington Sithole-Chimanda and former Quelaton Football Club coach Farai Tawashera.
The cup winners Mpopoma High School beat Tekwane High School 3-0 in the finals with goals coming from Amos Ncube (brace) and Bantu Rovers starlet Denzel Khumalo. And for their effort, the victors were awarded a trophy, 20 medals, an extra box of soccer balls and Chevrolet branded shirts. Before the finals there was a girls’ soccer curtain raiser match that pitted Montrose High School with Magwegwe.
Montrose lost the match 0-2.
Schools that took part in the tournament were drawn from 13 districts namely Bubi, Lupane, Mangwe, Bulawayo Central, Mzilikazi, Vungu, Bulilima, Nkayi, Gwanda, Tsholotsho and Insiza. Each of the participating schools were named after the participating nations at this year’s World Cup.
For example hosts Gifford participated as Brazil, Majiji (Nigeria), Fatima (Australia), Phakamani (Netherlands), Milton (Cameroon), Mpopoma (Portugal), Sibomvu (Germany), Tekwane (Ivory Coast), Hlangabeza (Argentina), Nhwali (Italy), Mavela (Ghana), JZ High (Spain), Montrose (England) and Magwegwe (Algeria).
Mike Blatch, who represented Auto World Bulawayo, the anchor sponsors of the event, expressed satisfaction on the outcome of the tournament saying they managed to achieve their main objective which was to bring kids together, while at the same time marketing the Chevrolet brand.
“With what happened this year we are considering making it an annual event, all the players showed a great deal of sportsmanship, there was not even at one time when I saw the players arguing with the referee. And we hope to attract more partners to make it a more fruitful event but the name Orap Chevrolet Cup shall remain because we are the founders,” he said. He said Chevrolet had purchased over a million soccer balls to be distributed around the world by One World Futbol and the US Africa Children’s Fellowship.
“Chevrolet brand are giving away 1 500 000 balls worldwide as part of their commitment to encourage the youth to play sport and be active,” he said, adding that the soccer balls were more economic because they never go flat hence cutting the costs of purchasing a pump.
Blatch said the talent and the level of discipline that was exhibited by the youngsters from all the schools at the tournament was impressive and that it made them consider staging another soccer tournament next year.
“We managed to reach to a lot of people in the city and the surrounding areas, most of the participating children that took part got something to take home because we had a number of partners which included Arenel, National Blankets, Safeguard Security, Schweppes and Lennard Bread,” said the Auto World Boss, disclosing that their main focus was on soccer as evidenced by sponsorship package by Chevrolet to English premiership side Manchester United.
All the schools that took part in the tournament got a token of appreciation through certificates, football kits, soccer balls and refreshments courtesy of Arenel, Lennard Bread and Schweppes.
Individual prizes included the most outstanding player and golden boot awards which were won by Mpopoma’s Denzel Khumalo, goal of the tournament that was awarded to Nhwali Secondary School, and the journalists’ player of the tournament won by Derick Chisale of Mpopoma High School.
Spain (JZ High School) was voted the most disciplined team and for that they got an extra box of soccer balls.
Langa who officially opened the tournament on Saturday 7 June said sport was vital in shaping a successful youth.
“Youths that have a habit of competition, fairness and patriotism on the sports fields go on to show these attitudes in other facets of life.
Therefore, it is important for all of us in society to work together to create opportunities for young people to experience the beauty, the power, and the magic of sport,” he said.
Langa expressed concern over parents who were not supportive of their children who took part in sporting activities saying they had serious misconceptions.
“If a child is inclined to sport or cultural activities, the parents, and surprisingly some members of the society, feel concerned, they simply do not believe much will come out of it,” he said, adding that such people had a wrong mindset that attached value to school based only on academic achievement to the detriment of everything else.
Langa said his ministry supported the efforts of partnerships led by Orap as well as Auto World Bulawayo through the Chevrolet brand in championing sport development.
“Mrs Huni (the Orap chief executive officer) and Mr Blatch (Auto World Bulawayo), I congratulate you and I thank you for the leadership’ philanthropy and the corporate social responsibility that you have shown in hosting this innovative tournament.
“It is impressive to note that you have also made a concerted effort to bring other partners into this event to make it a broad based community effort. These include Arenel, Treger Holdings, Fazak Afrika, The Corporate Counsel, Viva Marketing, Quick Cash Zimbabwe, Charisma Agency and many others,” he said.
After the finals the invited guests had an opportunity to make two teams, one for the women and the other for men to showcase their yester year pieces of flair by taking spot kicks.
The women’s team was made up of Kanengoni-Malinga, Nyoni and Tracey Mutonhori while the men’s comprised Mandaza, Langa and Reverend Paul Damasane.
The ladies team emerged victorious by edging the men’s team 2-1 with Nyoni and Malinga finding the back of the net while Langa was the only one who scored for the men’s team with Mandaza and Damasane missing the target.
For their effort the winners were presented with a box of soccer balls that they were advised to donate to any organisation of their choice.
