Bloody end to darts league as players exchange blows

Sikhumbuzo Moyo Acting Sports Editor
THERE was a bloody end to the Bulawayo Metropolitan Province Darts Association league when two players exchanged blows during the Straitia Beverages-sponsored Archers Doubles Darts tourney on Saturday.Veteran player Moses Ndlovu, who ended the season with a massive 50 badges, was floored by Archers’ Albert Tawanda following a minor misunderstanding.

“It was a sorry sight really to see grown up men fighting like that, we do not condone such behaviour especially when the league is busy trying to court sponsorship.

“We will wait for the return of Ernest Maphepha Sibanda from the UK to map the way forward,” said the association’s organising secretary and spokesperson Lethukuthula Nkomo.

Away from the unfortunate fracas, Joseph Mirazi and Arnold Musaraba from Zvishavane emerged victorious, beating the Archers’ duo of Nkululeko Ncube and Benjamin Ncube.

Coming third was Jackson Ndimande and Malcom Mota although it was by default as they were meant to play Ndlovu and his partner Godfrey Mazonde. Ndlovu could not continue playing due to injuries that he sustained as a result of the fight.

Meanwhile, Straitia Beverages chief executive officer Jethro Sibanda expressed his company’s willingness to continue their sponsorship of the event next year.

“We might need to talk with the relevant people on that one, however as Straitia Beverages we take our corporate social responsibilities seriously because we live and profit from the community. When we were approached to fund the tournament, we immediately agreed,” said Sibanda.

He said his company was involved in many other social responsibility projects as a way of ploughing back to the community they serve.
Sibanda, though, called for the Bulawayo Darts Association league to have a deliberate programme of promoting junior darts players so as to secure the future of the game.

“Juniors are very important and I would urge the leadership of this league to try by all means to have youngsters participating in this game,” said Sibanda.