adminEighty teams participated in the $12 000 tournament bankrolled by Victoria Falls businessman Bekithemba Mpofu during the long holiday.
In total 60 teams took part in the qualifiers.
The teams were drawn from the constituency’s five wards stretching from Jambezi, Sidobe, Kachechete, Chikandakubi, Matetsi, Nemananga and Victoria Falls urban.
Two representatives from each ward progressed to the two-day finals that were played at Ndlovu Grounds in Kachechete Ward over the weekend.
For their efforts, Chewumba Pirates went home $1 000 richer.
All participating teams were given soccer balls while the top four — Chewumba Pirates, Supersport, Masters and Ford United — were each given a kit.
The other finalists were Manchester from Jambezi, Bafana Bafana (Jambezi), Cir Class (Kachechete), Airport (Matetsi) and Esla Stars (Matetsi).
An elated Mpofu said the idea of starting a soccer tournament came after realising that rural youths had nothing to do thereby leaving themselves vulnerable to social ills.
He said the tournament was meant to bring all members of the Hwange West Constituency together to reflect and come up with ideas on how they could develop their area.
“I saw that youths had nothing to do as the majority drop out of school and remain unemployed. I then thought of bringing them together through sport so that they start thinking collectively on how they could start projects. We thought this was the starting point where we would discover talent and identify those who need assistance to develop themselves in life,” said Mpofu.
He said the tournament, which also includes netball, will be an annual event in the constituency.
“We will do this every year. Now that we have finished the soccer category, next week netball teams will start preparing for their own tournament where the same wards will compete again because we do not want to leave women out of development opportunities. We will continue helping everyone in the constituency even if the tournament is over because our aim is to have a collective project for each particular community,” said Mpofu.
After the final, Mpofu said he was happy that it was a success.
“I was surprised that we have such talent in our youths. All they lack is back-up which is what we want to render them to revive vibrancy of the youths. Already plans are underway to have a bigger event next time. The tournament was sponsored to the tune of $12 000 and each team received soccer balls while the netball teams have already received theirs in preparation for the forthcoming netball tournament,” said Mpofu.
Ndlovu Grounds in Kachechete Ward were a hive of activity as thousands of people literally drawn from across the constituency attended the two-day tournament.
Online Reporter