Online Reporter
Lovemore Dube, Zimpapers Sports Hub
ZIMBABWE’S sporting pipeline runs wider than many imagine and the weekend gathering in Dete showed how much promise lives in the rural districts.
That belief came through strongly from Sport and Recreation Commission (SRC) board members David Simba and Valentine Mudenda after they spent the day watching netball and football in a community that rarely gets the spotlight.
Dete, situated in Hwange District, Matabeleland North Province, once a lively railway service centre, came back to life as it hosted the Speaker of Parliament Honourable Jacob Francis Mudenda Sports Festival. Teams from Dete, Hwange and Binga filled the fields and turned the gala into a showcase of raw ability.
“This has been a very good event and an eye opener. I have enjoyed watching some delightful football and exhibition of great talent from rural Matabeleland North. I am surprised by the standards that were on display and I have a feeling it is the kind of exposure rural talent needs,” said Simba, a former footballer and tennis player.
He said these gatherings are the places where unheralded players can be spotted, placed in proper programmes and shaped to compete at national level. Simba urged districts to organise similar festivals so scouts across different sports can discover more emerging talent.
“This is encouraging to see the good level of organisation at village level, we would like to see this all the way up. But it is my view that if we have these across our districts and centres like this one, not just netball and football but across the sporting spectre, we could expose more talent to national associations,” said Simba.
The event reinforced to him that the talent exists. What needs attention is the technical side.
“So from the look of things, coaching clinics in officiating, management and coaching is the way to go, this will bring these folks at par with their urban counterparts in terms of appropriate and expected skills levels,” said Simba.
He was also excited to meet Gracious Mupande, who earned a scholarship to study in the United States. Simba said the youngster emerged from the same kind of community tournaments sponsored by the Speaker of Parliament.
Valentine Mudenda echoed the sentiment that the festival matched Government’s drive to make sport accessible in line with the National Development Strategy 2.
“We are here in Dete as SRC we want to promote local sport, it is as a National Development Strategy 2 feature as mentioned by the President, that sport must be for everyone, Honourable Mudenda is leading the way, he has brought teams together from Dete, Binga, Hwange and Mabale, people are enjoying,” said Mudenda while watching a semi final.
He said sport is becoming a major employer as professional systems grow in cricket, football, netball and road running. He noted that some parts of Matabeleland North have long been overlooked despite producing notable athletes.
“What is important is the unity of sport, we have been marginalised for a while, we want to have tournaments for all leaders in Matabeleland North, we have the Resident Minister Moyo, we want to have a tournament for and other leaders,” said Mudenda.
He praised Zifa for grooming young referees. One of them, 14-year-old Sam Ngwenya, impressed with confident decision making and an understanding of the laws.
“See what Zifa have done, we are happy with this, we have females and youths officiating, this is a very good gesture by Zifa,” said Mudenda.
He added that these festivals go beyond competition. They create platforms for wellness, health education and community campaigns.
“When we have these tournaments, they bring people together and it becomes a good occasion to spread word about health, crime and anti-poaching campaigns such as what we have seen here,” said Mudenda.
Event convener Ndodana Masuku was pleased with the turnout and the overall delivery.
“This has been one of our best events and we would like to applaud Honourable Mudenda for the gesture. He has shown love to the people of the province and played his part in pushing us to excel and create more opportunities for the citizens.
“Having participants drawn from Dete, Hwange, Mabale and Binga has been a great thing for sport, it has brought communities together, allowed talented youngsters to get on to the pitch and try to prove what they are made of.
“The standard of both netball and football was high and left me feeling we deserved more people coming to scout for talent than just Hwange coach Njabulo Dube. This is where raw talent is and what is left is for someone to take it to the next level to support what we have done at Area Zone level,” said Masuku, whose 20 team Area Zone League, the Rhino Challenge Cup, expands to 38 next year.
Masuku said more structured competitions and active Area Zone football could widen the country’s talent base.
Favourites Sables of Dete beat Empumalanga 3-0 in the soccer final.
Frank Mudenda of Nsoongwa near Cross Dete said he felt privileged to be part of the organising team.
“It was an honour to be part of the inaugural tournament, so many lessons learnt but was happy to see good netball and soccer from the eight teams drawn from our districts,” said Frank.
James Simwanza, whose Makwika United fell in the semi finals, said the festival offered invaluable experience for his side, which is preparing for Division One.
“We are preparing to play in Division One and this is the first time the boys have played out of Hwange.
A feel of playing outside Hwange is what we have always wished and the Honourable Jacob Francis Mudenda Tournament provided that opportunity. These tournaments contribute towards football development. It is good to see our leaders come and support sport at grassroots level. This has been a good tournament and looking at the hundreds that came out, our people lack in recreational opportunities,” said Simwanza.
Bongani Ndlovu