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Leonard Ncube, Victoria Falls Reporter
VICTORIA Falls based Corinthians Sports Club has honoured its outstanding players after a successful year in the various sporting disciplines the club is affiliated to.
Israel Samende Ndlovu established Corinthians FC in 2006, officially registered with Zifa in 2007 and is the head of junior development after ceding presidency to Phanie Nyoni.
Corinthians Club outstanding players receiving award
Last year, the club expanded and established a sports club comprising various sporting disciplines-men and women football, cricket and netball with the aim of developing grassroots sport.
Corinthians FC plays in Zifa Matabeleland North and is currently the oldest existing soccer team in Victoria Falls as some clubs have either folded or changed names.
The club had a good outing this year at various competitions.
It is the reigning Under 15 and Under 17 champions in the local junior league and runners up in the Under 11, Under 13 and Under 15s.
Corinthians Club outstanding players receiving awards
The Under 17 team also won Victoria Falls Dr Bishop Rocky Moyo tournament and were runners up in the Under 11, Under 13 and Under 15s.
The club held and annual awards ceremony recently to honour outstanding players.
Jaden Chimukoko was voted player of the year in the Under 11 category, with Alton Chuma and Emmanuel Muzvimbiri settling for most outstanding and most promising.
In the Under 13, Tanaka Madzimbamoto was voted player of the year, Mlungisi Makhalima most outstanding while most improved player award went to Simphiwe Maphosa.
Liver Ngwenya was the Under 15s player of the year, Tashama Moyo most outstanding and Shepherd Ncube most loyal.
Marshall Kandanda was voted most consistent player.
In the Under 17, the player of the year was Knowledge Nyathi while Gift Bhebhe was voted most outstanding player.
In the girls’ soccer team, Tafadzwa Mashoko was voted player of the year, Tarisai Chingunduru most outstanding, Lubalami Ndlovu most improving player while Nothando Ndlovu got the golden boot award.
Nokuthaba Ndlovu was voted the most promising player, Natasha Greya the most disciplined player and Ashley Moyo the most consistent player.
Junior Mbakata and Panashe Sithole were voted the player of the year and most outstanding player respectively in Division 2 with Valence Mpofu the most improved player.
Brendon Mathe and Wesley Joao were top goal scorers for the club while the latter also became the most disciplined.
Overall, Bhebhe was voted the most promising player.
Corinthians Club outstanding players receiving awards
Casper Mpofu is the Division 2 head coach assisted by Shingirai Kwashira and Darlington Tshabalala.
Ndlovu is juniors and developmental coach while Trust Ncube is senior coach.
The club believes 2022 has been one of the most successful years as its players performed well at respective schools they attend.
Speaking at the awards ceremony, acting Victoria Falls Mayor Councillor Tonderai Mutasa challenged the club to apply for land for its academy.
“Your coaches should push the council for facilities because soccer and academic education are now equal. It’s unfortunate that as a country we are under Fifa ban for sports but we believe by the time the ban is lifted, some of these juniors will be in national teams and we will be there to support sport,” he said.
A community leader, Christopher Mufakwatsi Dube challenged parents to invest in their children’s talents in sports.
“Corinthians is now a multi-disciplinary sports academy so as parents we need to support our children because sport is now a career,” he said.
-@ncubeleon
Online Reporter