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Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
HEALTH and wellness were the biggest winners when a total of 16 social soccer teams, many Manicaland Netball Division One League, four social netball teams and two volleyball teams converged at Mutare Boys’ High School last week on Saturday for the inaugural edition of The Manica Post Health and Wellness Day.
Even though Harare social soccer side, Protector Rangers walked away with the social soccer top prize, while Frei8ght Zone-bankrolled Santa Queens maintained their dominance in the Manicaland Netball Division One League, promotion of healthy lifestyles among male and female adults, through social sporting activities, was the major thrust of the event.
The provision of a platform for inter-corporate engagement and promotion of business products and ideas was also a major highlight of The Manica Post Health and Wellness Day.
With the presence of Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company (ZCDC); ethanol producing concern, GreenFuel; construction company, The Big Rock Logistics, ICT gadget dealer, Elite Connections; clinical services provider, PSH; Mutare City Council, clearing and customs entity, Frei8ght Zone, last Saturday’s The Manica Post Health and Wellness Day did not resemble an inaugural event.
Editor of The Manica Post, Wendy Nyakurerwa-Matinde thanked all the corporates who chipped in with sposnorship as well as the teams that took part.
“We really appreciate the immense support we received from our esteemed sponsors. As a team we are humbled by the buy-in we received from corporates as well as the huge turn-out of social sports teams and their supporters. This is only the beginning, let’s do it again next time,” she said.
Esteemed partners of the event denounced poor health seeking behaviour, while promoting good health and wellness.
ZCDC Head of Public Relations and Community Development, Sugar Chagonda said: “I want to congratulate the organisers of the inaugural edition of The Manica Post Health and Wellness Day. The event was a resounding success in all respects, be it from an organisational point of view to the overwhelming response from corporates.
“Apart from promoting health and wellness, the event provided an opportunity for corporate interaction and socialisation. One can only hope that it will be an annual event.
“Where I come from, at ZCDC, issues of health and wellness are at the core of our values. So, I can assure you and guarantee our support to such noble initiatives.”
Mutare City Council spokesperson, Spren Mutiwi said the local authority appreciates The Manica Post Health and Wellness Day as this will help to create a healthy citizen who will contribute towards the development of the city and service delivery.
“As a city, we have a wellness and health policy that also promotes the healthy living among employees, and this helps the city to discharge its constitutional obligations,” said Mr Mutiwi.
Frei8ghtZone co-director, Jeansally Chiwambutsa said: “Issues relating to health, wellness and social development run in our DNA and that is the reason we are bankrolling a Manicaland Division One League club, Santa Queens.“It is our belief and conviction that the importance of healthy lifestyles in the age of non-communicable diseases such as blood pressure and diabetes is of paramount importance.
“We certainly look forward to play our role, in any way we can, to promote healthy lifestyles among adults, especially the disadvantaged female population.”
The winners of the social soccer competition – Harare-based Protector Rangers spokesperson, Blessing ‘Jah Bee’ Mutsaka said: “We are in support of the wellness initiatives and a health citizen is key in sustaining development and service delivery.
“We would like to thank The Manica Post for a well organised social event that enabled professionals and ordinary people a chance to congregate and work on fitness goals as well as form business and other connections.
“We will definitely be back in Mutare for future fun events like these. We also enjoyed seeing social organisations like Population Services Health present at the event. Our name as Protector Rangers stems from the protector brand of condoms and the team was initially formed in the late 90s with the name Protector to encourage condom usage. In the Harare professionals leagues, the team is actually nicknamed the “Condom Boys”.”
According to Mutsaka, the name was coined after the introduction of the protector brand of condom to fight the spread of HIV and AIDS.
It is a social club formed in 1998 and is composed of professionals who want to keep fit and socialise. Tafadzwa Mazunze, who scored four goals, is a retired soccer player having featured for Division One clubs like Simba Bhora years back.
Nisbert Zvakare, who is also the captain, was also outstanding in defence as the team conceded only two goals in open play in all the six matches they featured during the tournament.
Former Mutare Farm Supplies FC captain, Tatenda ‘Gede’ Matiringe was also outstanding.
The batch of local referees led by Mutare football personality, Gift ‘The Transporter’ Mapinda did their best to handle the pressure that came with a mixture of teams from different social backgrounds.
Thus Mapinda said: “It is good to have these wellness events as people interact in different ways. One keeps fit and mentally healthy.”
Not to be outdone was one major service provider, Villa Spot, who ensured the attendees were adequately fed.
Villa Spot proprietor, Abel Zhakata said: “This was the first edition and it was really an exciting event. We really look forward to many more similar events where we will have more improved sporting entertainment, business or professional engagement in a relaxed atmosphere and fun.”
For an inaugural edition, The Manica Post Health and Wellness Day was a resounding success!
Participating teams:
Soccer teams:
ZCDC; GreenFuel; Protector; Rangers; Vengere Stars; Elite Collections; Nyanga Legends; All Stars; Quarry; Chipolopolo; Mercenaries; Igwe Stars; Hillcrest; Bumbalakaka FC; Population Solutions for Health (PSH); hosts, Zimpapers Mutare
Netball teams:
Division One Bubble teams:
PSH and GreenFuel
Volleyball teams:
ZCDC and GreenFuel
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