Chicken Inn to face Chiefs in Uhuru celebrations

SPORT and Recreation Commission (SRC) provincial co-ordinator, Sam Dzvimbu says they are making plans to have Chicken Inn play Bulawayo Chiefs at the provincial Independence Day celebrations, at White City Stadium on Thursday.

The main Independence Celebrations will be held in Murambinda, where Dynamos will play Highlanders on the same day.

“Preliminarily, we have for Bulawayo a game between Chicken Inn and Bulawayo Chiefs. The two teams are the ones that are pencilled to play on Thursday, but they are loose ends that we are yet to tie up,” said Dzvimbu.

He says the football game will not be the only attraction as there will also be amputee football on display.

“Interestingly, you would also want to know that we have incorporated amputees’ football to the festivities. It’s a new sport in Zimbabwe, but internationally it’s been there for a while. We have a structure, which was recently formed in Bulawayo and we have at least two clubs already in existence, so they are going to face off before the main football match,” said Dzvimbu.

Amputee football is a sport played by people living with physical disability. Amputee football has brought hope to many people with physical disabilities resulting mainly from amputations caused by different factors such as diabetes mellitus, peripheral vascular disease, neuropathy and trauma from serious accidents.

Dzvimbu called on the Bulawayo community to fill up White City Stadium.

“We are encouraging the Bulawayo public to come in numbers to see their local teams in action. They are doing well in the local league and because of that they need to come and watch them live in action,” said Dzvimbu.

During halftime, the Bulawayo Athletics Board (Bab) will conduct a ZITF Four Minute Mile qualifier on the athletics track.

Bab chairperson, Watson Madanyika confirmed the latest development.

“As per tradition, we will have a qualifier during the Independence Day Celebrations. We will race at half-time of the football match that will be played on the day. Hopefully, we will have more athletes making the grade. On Saturday, we will have another qualifier in Gwanda,” said Madanyika.

The CocaCola Four-Minute Mile Challenge is an annual men’s competition, with a pre-requisite time of four minutes and 31 seconds for one to qualify for the final.

The finals take place on the last day of the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair, on April 27.

Athletes who have qualified are John Muinde (four minutes 28,11 seconds), Trust Hove (four minutes 22.12 seconds), Wellington Varevi (four minutes 20,83 seconds), Tendai Zimuto (four minutes 21,60 seconds), Author Chitara (four minutes 23,80 seconds), Nomore Vireki (four minutes 25,25 seconds),

Bornface Jeki (4 minutes 26,42 seconds), Matthew Masirirevhu four minutes 27,85 seconds. — @innocentskizoe