Online Reporter
Lovemore Dube [email protected]
GROWING up in Filabusi and later in Bulawayo, Thamsanqa Ndlovu was touched by the humiliation boys faced when playing soccer.
One of the two teams had to remove shirts and play without on dusty patches on very hot afternoons, subjecting the kids to an unsolicited sun tan. Some with scales of dirt on their necks or backside would be turned into subjects of ridicule by peers.
That made them withdraw into their shells while on the positive some of the boys took to bathing to avoid embarrassment. But there was the inevitable the bulging of boys’ breasts from the ages of 12 to 17, a constant source of embarrassment as at times fears were that they could grow to the sizes of girls’.
Ndlovu, a United College of Education trained teacher who completed his secondary school education at Sobukhazi, says that was very touching to observe.
He understood back then the difficulty that schools and communities were going through. At times there was not even a school uniform, just one ball for the school teams to train, a very high wild clearance of the ball would see it land on a tree with thorns and bring to an end a match or a training session.
Ndlovu has been in the country on his annual break. What has stood out during his holiday is the giving spirit where dozens of teams and dozens of individuals mostly children have found themselves beneficiaries of the Majinkila Hope Foundation and KitAid benevolence.
“Growing up in Matabeleland in the 1970s and 1980s I often saw boys removing their shirts to play with bare skins exposed to the treacherous weather conditions. It was all fun, the kids never realised anything wrong. All they wanted to do was just play and be scorched by the sun or affected by the chilly weather.
“But looking back it was disgusting and humiliating innocent souls. Since 2016 I have donated over 500 soccer uniforms for use in junior development and women’s soccer. We will continue in partnership with KitAid to try and make a difference in football development by providing decent kitting for the less privileged in Zimbabwe. We support every kit regardless of where they come from,” said Ndlovu who moved to the United Kingdom to join his family.
He said the Majinkila Hope Foundation was founded with the support of his daughter. Their aim was to help up and coming girls and boys to grow up in sport.
“We wish to use sport to inculcating the future generation of leaders with positive values. So as the Majinkila Hope Foundation and KitAid our aim is to ensure there in equality and inclusivity in sport. No child should feel the lesser, by donating sportswear we want every child to feel confident and partake in the exhibition of skills without feeling inferior. Lack of kit sees some feel lesser,” said Ndlovu.
Ndlovu said donating playing kit allows the clubs which a majority is owned by individuals or community saving some money.
“Some of our clubs are owned by individuals, uniforms get to be a bit of an expense. At times we give them uniforms of some known English teams which tends to serve as an inspiration to youngsters back at home,” said Ndlovu.
With over 500 uniforms donated to date, Ndlovu has not stopped dressing up teams back at home.
“We will continue to get more uniforms to our less privileged communities with the hope of helping identify and nurturing the next talent for our big teams like Bulawayo Chiefs, Highlanders and Chicken Inn,’ said Ndlovu at a tournament he sponsored at Lobengula where several teams were kitted last Sunday.
Dyke Magwanyanya and Shadreck Kutsanzira of the Bulawayo Province Zifa board attended the event.
Ndlovu said his organisation supports even rural clubs and schools.
“When we give, we are never selective, it is about our kids as a nation and the next generation of heroes in the game we are trying to promote. Clubs from across the country can reach out to us and we try how best we can support them,” said Ndlovu.
He said he is happy with the standards of the game locally and believes the potential for international success is there.
“I have enjoyed watching these juniors and I see a lot of talent here hopefully the boys fall into right hands and get proper grooming for the future. The boys from Makokoba and Highlanders in the final were good. I got a chance to watch Lobengula and New Orleans girls and I am impressed with the development of women’s sport,” he said.
