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Mehluli Sibanda, Senior Sports Reporter
AT the 2016 edition of the Khumbulani Moyo-sponsored football tournament held at Badala Business Centre in Inyathi, Prince Dube dazzled the crowd as he led his side Shooting Stars to a 1-0 victory over Inyathi Rovers in the final.
He had made a return to the dusty fields of Inyathi where he had developed his skill at Shooting Stars under Admos Ncube while he was pursuing his education at Somvubu Secondary School. Dube had finished the previous season as the top goal scorer in the Zimbabwe Football Association Bulawayo Province Division Two League with 20 goals for the Highlanders Academy. His goals led the Bosso development side to earn promotion to the Zifa Southern Region Division One League.
Dube had at the end of the 2015 season been elevated to the Highlanders first team so he headed to Inyathi to bid farewell to his former teammates.
Many who watched Dube put up a splendid show in Inyathi predicted he was going to have a successful first season at the top with Highlanders. The boy nicknamed Gaddafi by the Inyathi villagers had a great time at Highlanders in 2016, scoring five league goals and also providing a number of assists. At the end of the season, he was voted as the Most Promising Under-20 player at the Castle Lager Soccer Stars of the Year awards held on 2 December. Dube also took the same accolade at the Highlanders awards ceremony staged a week later.
At this year’s tournament, another promising player Bret Ndlovu stole the show while turning out for the winners Bubi Football Club, a team funded by the event sponsor. The 22-year-old caused all sorts of problems for the opposition defence with his deliveries from the right side of his team’s attack. His crosses caused a lot of anxious moments as Bubi dismantled Shooting Stars 4-1 in the semifinals and saw off Inyathi Pirates 2-0 in the final. He provided four assists for the six goals his team scored on the day.
Ndlovu, a right back who can also be deployed on the wing, turns out for Zifa Southern Region Division One side Talen Vision has dreams of playing in the PSL this season. Ndlovu was voted as the Player of the tournament which saw him get a monetary reward, a football short as well as two tops from Canada-based former AmaZulu and Zimbabwe Warriors goalkeeper Dominic Sithole.
The 2003 championship winner with AmaZulu was really impressed by Ndlovu, in particular his ability to track back to defend when his team was under pressure and his superb crosses into the opposition box. He likened him to Manchester United star Antonio Valencia who has the ability to venture upfront and then drop back when his team is under attack.
“He is powerful going forward and he can give you options as well as he is a roving wingback, he was really tested defensively but I think he reads the game well and he knows when to go and when not to. He will obviously be an asset as he will always put his opponent under constant pressure. I think when a coach starts working with him you can know what to do with him and be able to see his weakness,’’ said Sithole.
Moyo described Ndlovu as being a marvel to watch and believes the youngster can go far with his football career if he remains focused.
“He is marvellous to watch play, the football brain he has and pace, he is star for the future if he keeps his head down,’’ Moyo said.
Ndlovu said while he is still contracted to Talen Vision where he still has two year left, the club should not have a problem with his trying his luck at Highlanders or any of the PSL teams.
“I have a two-year contract with Talen Vision but I don’t think the club has any problem with me going for trials at Highlanders or any of the teams in the PSL. My dream is to play for a big team in Zimbabwe then leave for a better league outside the country,’’ said Ndlovu, a product of Mzingwane High School.
Sithole also sponsored the Goalkeeper of the Tournament with goalkeeping gloves, a keeper’s top as well as cash prize. The top goal scorer was Bongani Tshuma of Bubi who found the target three times.
Winners Bubi received a trophy, medals and a cash prize while the other participating teams also got monetary rewards.
The prizes were presented to the teams by Moyo, Sithole as well as community leaders Mzamani Mpofu and David Khanye.
Moyo, a South Africa-based businessman with interests in the construction industry promised an even bigger tournament for next year with better rewards for the four teams which make it to the final day. The tournament has been held on New Year’s Day since 2013.
Indications are that Highlanders coach Erol Akbay, who is on a break in his home country Netherlands, is keen to have a look at Ndlovu when he returns early next month. Should Ndlovu make it at Bosso, the tournament would continue to achieve one of its objectives of unearthing new talent.
@Mdawini_29
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