Chronicle Editor
Lovemore Dube and Innocent Kurira
PETER Lendios, the owner of Townshend and Butcher, sponsors of an annual tournament for Bulawayo Amateur Football Association since 1987, believes Area Zone football is key to the development of the sport.
Townshend and Butcher has supported the league since 1957 when it was the Bulawayo African Football Association (Bafa).
Leondios took over the company in 1987 and pledged to continue backing the tournament. And he has stuck to his word with the draw for this year’s tournament held recently.
He also supports the Bulawayo Province Zimbabwe Republic Police Soccer League.
Leondios says amateur football has always fed into the Zifa leagues with players having been afforded a chance to play football leisurely without much expectation of remuneration. He said many players are rushed in their development and have failed to last long because of rushed progression to the professional ranks.
He said in the absence of Community Youth Club activity, the sport was no longer producing gems like in the past.
Leondios said leagues like Bafa deserve to be supported to allow players to play more football.
“The guys are not playing enough football before they turn professional. Area Zone football like Bafa and the Rhino Cup Champions League in Dete, help players get used to organized competition football, they play more matches and prepare themselves for the future,” said Leondios.
He called on Bulawayo social teams and community clubs to come on board and revive Bafa which now has just one league.
“When we took over Townshend and Butcher, Bafa had several leagues. It is part of the Bulawayo football history and legacy so we need more clubs to participate,” said Leondios.
Great clubs like Zimbabwe Saints, Highlanders, Eastern Brothers later Eastlands started off in Bafa and played in this very tournament.
Lawrence Phiri, Billy Sibanda, Kainot Luphlahla, the late Edward Dlamini better known as Magungubala, Edward “Sales House” Dzowa, Andrew “Scrupata” Jele, Joseph Dube and Matthew Marume are some of the yesteryear greats who participated in the Townsend and Butcher tournament.
Guest of honour at the draw, Limukani Ncube, who is the editor of B-Metro thanked Townshend and Butcher for their continued support of social football.
“Townshend and Butcher is one of the biggest business enterprises in the country. They are also one of the oldest football sponsors in the country. We want to thank them because they have managed to keep us fit and also deal with our mental health. What would we do on Sundays without football?
“So we want to thank the sponsors for keeping us entertained. As the tournament is being played we hope to have the teams sticking to the rules and regulations of the game and have an incident-free tournament,” said Ncube.
Leondios said the tournament was part of the tradition of his enterprise and it was something he wanted to see continuously happening.
“It is once again my pleasure to announce that we are back again as Townshend and Butcher to sponsor this tournament. It has been a solid 67 years in the game and we are not stopping in supporting the Bulawayo Amateur Football Association,” said Leondios.
Zifa Area Zone chairman Charles Chunda warned the teams against using Zimbabwe Football Association registered players during the tournament. “It’s a milestone that we are in the 67th edition and stern measures will be taken on those who try to cheat,” said Chunda.
Mat High City have been regulars in the tournament since 1969
Fixtures:
Safeguard v Dynamos Byo Chapter, 3rd Avenue v High Point, Stars v Spambrick, Mat High v Shooters, United v Seven Warriors, Surbubs v Palace, Mpilo v Highlanders Supporters, ZRP Khumalo v FC Sporting. — @innocentskizoe
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