Alex Park Primary hosts Soccer Fest

The Under-9s played five matches at 10-minute intervals in one way with each team allowed 15 players.
The teams were divided into two pools -A and B – with each pool having seven schools playing in field A and B respectively.

Pool A saw Alex Park playing the lead role followed by Avonlea, Borrowdale, Hallingbury, Highlands, St Michael’s and Westridge.
In Pool B Avondale was the first, with Belvedere coming second, Blakiston third, Lendy Park from Marondera fourth, Maranatha fifth, Marlborough sixth and lastly Mubeena Ebrahim.

The festival’s thrust was to bring together schools to enjoy the matches as well as developing the players.
In Pool A, Avonlea and St Michael’s were the two outstanding teams while in Pool B Maranatha Primary’s A team came out tops.

However, what was more captivating was seeing Avonlea winning two games and draw three while Maranatha won four, drew one and lost one.
No matter how the teams played, there was no winner or loser since it is an open festival without quarter-finals, semi-finals or finals.

Alex Park coach and the festival director Elliot Mushaninga said that they are set to develop the mini soccer festival into something big.
“We came up with the idea of the festival with the school’s team manager, Crispen Chinhoyi, to send an open invitation to different primary schools within and outside Harare.

“This year was targeted for the Under9s and we want to develop them to play in the age group’s league, which is set for next year like what is happening the Under-11 and 13,” he said.

Maranatha Primary School team captain Thabiso Dube was overwhelmed by his team’s performance at the festival.
“We enjoyed the matches and it was a dream come true to us since we wanted to attend and win. We were top in our group and hope next time will still be together as a team.

Thanks to our coach who is also the sports director Mr Mwareya for training us as well, instilling confidence and discipline in us,” said Dube.
Shanley Dingilesi, captain of the host team, said they had squandered several chances.

“Although we anticipated winning in all the matches we played, things went the other way round. Of the five matches we played, we drew four and lost one.
Avonlea Primary school team captain Mufaro Huchu said it was an experience for them to be part of the festival.

“For me this festival was just excellent, as Avonlea Primary we worked very hard to be here and it was an honour to have been part of this festival. We would like to say special thanks to Alexander Park for organising this event. We wish the next Grade 3s the best of luck,” he said with a smile.

Meanwhile, though the festival was a success, it is going through a tough time in its bid to overcome the hurdles.
“Schools are finding it difficult to come up with the required number of 15 players with some ending up bringing only 11 or 13 players. This is disadvantageous on grounds that it strains those players since they very young,” said coach Mushaninga.

He said lack of sponsorship is also hampering progress to the mini soccer’s smooth sailing.
“Hosting a festival of this magnitude requires a lot of resources, hence the need for sponsors to come aboard. In the past, weused to invite 22 schools, but we reduced the number since some of them could not make it.

“Again, it is very difficult for teams to just come and start playing without practising at their respective schools. Lack of resources has adversely affected their performance.
“What we are calling for is support from the corporate world to give us a hand be it with kits, equipment and prizes for the winning teams,” said Mushaninga. Since its inception two years ago, the organisers would invite few schools but later on turned it into a festival after parents proposed that it should be an annual thing.

Meanwhile, Rusape is ablaze today as over 15 high schools are battling it out at WaterMark Private School ball games competition which is underway. The event, dubbed WaterMark Ball Games Festival, is the first-ever schools ball games competition to be held in Rusape and is set to uplift the sporting discipline in the town.
Lots of prizes and awards are going to be won.

Among the ball games to be unveiled today will be volleyball, netball, handball and soccer.
Of the 15 schools confirmed to take part at the event, three are from Harare while Mutare has two. Trust Academy, Herantals and Prince Edward will represent Harare and Mashonaland at large while Mutare Boys High and St Dominic’s will represent Manicaland.

St Faith’s, St Killian’s, Mavhudzi, WaterMark and Vhengere High will lead for the local frail of schools expected to showcase the best acts in various disciplines.