16 teams in Townsend and Butcher tourney

Standing (from left), Bafa secretary general Silas Sibanda, vice chairman Charles Chunda, Townshend and Butcher’s Toni Leondios and Bafa chairman Chris Mtungwazi conduct the Townshend and Butcher Tournament draw yesterday at Townsend and Butcher shop

Ngqabutho Moyo
THE 57th edition of the Townshend and Butcher football tournament for teams in the Bulawayo Amateur Football Association kicks off tomorrow following a draw held in the city yesterday. Sixteen teams are taking part in the event which starts with a knockout phase at a number of venues in the city.

This year’s edition of the tournament is set to be played at four different venues since the closure of their traditional Barbourfields outside grounds in preparation for the Region Five Games.

Bafa chairperson Chris Mtungwazi said he was happy with the draw and urged the teams to adopt a gamely approach.
“I am happy with the way things were handled, it was a fair draw and I advise the teams to practice fair play on the field during the course of the tournament,” he said.

It is the oldest competition with the first being staged in 1957. Several stars have emerged from the tournament and in the past it has attracted Bulawayo’s traditional big guns with Highlanders and Zimbabwe Saints having played in it before they joined national football.

Saints quit Bafa in 1963 to join semi-professional football while Highlanders left Matabeleland High City to play in it from 1968 when they joined the Rhodesia National Football League ranks.

High City were meant to be place holders in case things did not work out well in national football then Highlanders would have found their franchise still intact.

Peter Leondios, the owner of Townshend and Butcher, said it is a big achievement for an amateur tournament to survive for more than 50 years and was looking forward to the tournament going on for future generations to benefit.

“It is a big achievement that the tournament has survived this long considering that it is amateur football. I wish that it can proceed to the next generations,” he said.

Bafa Draw
Fixtures: Bayi-Bayi v Masokane FC; Safe Guard v Lionstores; Golden Hotspurs v Afrasia FC; United FC v Mpilo United; Nga Chronicles v BCC West Park; Madamara FC v Poker Star; Chuck XI FC v Securico; Rebeles FC v School of Mines