Ajax Hotspurs win Master Masiku tournament

Nkosilathi Sibanda,Sports Writer

YOUNG football players from Bulawayo’s Ajax Hotspurs displayed much talent as they cleanly beat their opponents to be crowned winners of the Master Masiku Under-13 Invitational Tournament at Raylton Sports Club on Saturday.

The tournament, which was in honour of football great Masiku and was held under the auspices of Young Stars Sports Academy where he is a coach.
Legendary Moses “Bambo” Chunga was the guest of honour.

Teams invited were Ajax Hotspurs, Busters Academy and Gwanda Academy,Nakuluba Juniors of Victoria Falls, Real Squadrons and Young Flying Stars.

However, Gwanda Academy and Real Squadrons failed to turn up. It was then a four team tournament.

In opening the field, Busters Academy were walloped 4-0 by Ajax in the first encounter. Young Flying Stars Sports Academy beat Nakuluba 2-1.
Nakuluba had to up their game as they met Busters Academy whom they overcame by three goals to nil. Young Flying Stars and Ajax finished on goalless draw.

The champions were again too good for Nakuluba, as they netted three goals to no reply.
Eventually, by game end, Ajax and Young Flying Stars Sports Academy were tied at seven points after the three matches, but Ajax emerged winners of the tournament courtesy of a superior goal difference.

Nakuluba Juniors settled for third position, with Busters Academy on fourth.

Masiku, who has since turned a grassroots football coach, spoke glowingly of his passion to help nurture talent.
He was of the view that the recent lifting of the 18-month ban on Zimbabwe by Fifa, has to be a wakeup call for clubs, academies and scouts to reshape their development programmes.

“We have a huge task ahead, now that Fifa has accepted us into international games. This is the time for us to start preparing for national teams from junior to the senior level. The aim is to nurture talent, with the hope of having these players making it big,” said Masiku.

Meanwhile, the director of Young Flying Stars Sports Academy Collen Nyambiya said Masiku’s tournament was to honour him whilst he was alive and that it was a measure of how committed they were in grooming players.

“We are hosting the inaugural Master Masiku Under-13 tournament as Young Flying Stars Sport Academy because we saw it fit to be part of this historic tournament that is aimed at giving youngsters exposure to showcase their talent. In fact, I have always said, we want to honour our legends of the game whilst they are living,” said Nyambiya.

Masiku in his playing days was a cog in the heart of defence. He made his mark at Highlanders, Railstars, AmaZulu and Mbabane Stars in Swaziland. — @NkosiLegend.