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Tadious Manyepo Sports Reporter
THE annual Mai Hondo football tournament, which has been on ice for the past two years owing to the Covid-19 pandemic, returns with a bang this year. A total of 20 Under-15 boys teams and 12 Under-17 girls teams will square up at Sakubva in Mutare in a two-day fiesta whose finals will be staged tomorrow.
The tournament is held in memory of the late Gogo Prisca Matimati who passed on in 2005. One of the organisers of the fiesta, Blessing Mutsaka, who is son to Mai Hondo, said this time around the tournament will see youths receiving coaching on drug abuse from experts.
“There is much more than football this time around. We are trying to take the youths off the streets using the game of football that is why we decided to have a cap on the age limit,” said Mutsaka.
“We are trying to fight drug abuse and other vice within society.
“Look, we believe in the transformation of the whole person for the better.
“Some are good in sport and others in other fields. So we are simply using sport as a gateway to a better life whether with the sport circles or outside it.
“We have engaged service providers who will be on the ground testing HIV and councilling services, drug abuse education, mental coaching on how to be confident among other things.” Mutsaka said competition is expected to be stiff in the field of play.
“We have been off the radar for the past two years due to Covid-19.
“We are expecting a thrilling tournament as we have teams from different parts of the country including Binga and Masvingo.
“We believe in fair play and vetting will be strict as we aim to give the right aged children a platform to be picked by scouts who will be available. “I am very excited with the response we have been getting from prospective contestants and for this year we settled for 20 boys and 12 girls teams.
“There will also be a match between Mutare football legends and a select side who will curtain raise the finals.”
Faith Drive Academy are the defending champions in the girls category but Vengere of Rusape and Mutare rivals Nyamauru are expected to give them a good fight.
La Sakubva are the boys champions with MAJESA and Ajax from Harare the front-runners for this year’s top prize.
Online Reporter