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Ricky Zililo, Senior Sports Reporter
FOUR teams competing in the Bulawayo Women’s League have been invited to participate in the Abanqobi Investments-sponsored soccer tournament to be held on Saturday at Lochard, Insiza District.
Organisers of the competition held during the festive holidays invited Ubuntu Queens, Street Set, Western Rangers and Lokshin Vipers so that they could showcase women’s football to the rural community.
Lithu Moyo, a member of the local organising committee is hopeful that the inclusion of women’s teams will bring excitement to the football fiesta that will see eight men’s teams competing.
“The Abanqobi Investments soccer tournament has spread and is now inclusive. For the first time, we shall be having women’s teams competing at the festival. We believe that there are talented women in the rural areas who just need a push to take up football. We’ve invited Ubuntu Queens, Street Set, Western Rangers and Lokshin Vipers so that they can showcase their talents and they might even inspire women in the rural areas to play soccer,” said Moyo.
Abanqobi Investments, a Bulawayo-based company that is into construction and security, held the inaugural tournament in Lochard, Insiza District in 2019.
They were forced to cancel the 2020 edition due to Covid-19 and last year they donated football kits and match balls to the community around Siyazama Primary School after an exhibition game.
Just like they did in 2019 and 2021, the tournament organisers who use the competition as part of their corporate social responsibility programme, have invited football legends as scouts for this weekend’s games.
“The men’s tournament is strictly for local footballers based in the rural areas so that they can expose their talents to scouts who have been invited. There are eight men’s teams and registration is ongoing.
We shall announce the names of the men’s teams before the end of the week,” said Moyo.
Former Warriors players Zenzo Moyo and Ronald “Gidiza” Sibanda, as well as ex-Highlanders and Caps United left-back Gift Lunga, have attended the previous editions. – @ZililoR
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