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Fungai Muderere
THE son to the late Vice-President Dr Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo, Sibangilizwe, has challenged the local football family to remain united and uphold the principles of unity through sport.
Nkomo was speaking at the launch of the inaugural Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Top Eight tournament for Zifa Southern Region Division One League at a colourful ceremony held at a Bulawayo hotel on Wednesday evening.
The knockout tournament is being bankrolled by Trukumb Private Limited and Partners to the tune of $10 000.
a�?We should not forget that football cuts across ethnic groups. My late father was always against the idea of identifying each other according to our tribes. Leta��s use football and sport in general to remain united. We should preach the message of unity through sport and let us not allow our children, who are now fond of abusing alcohol, to destroy this beautiful game by violent tendencies,a�? he said.
The function was graced by Zifa Vice-President Omega Sibanda, Zifa Southern Region chairman Musa Mandaza, Zifa Northern Region chairman Dennis Tshuma, Southern Region Division One clubs representatives and Highlanders chief executive officer Ndumiso Gumede among others.
Trukumba��s representative Sabelo Mpofu thanked the Nkomo family for allowing them to use the name of the late vice president as a brand for the tournament.
a�?We thank the Nkomo family for allowing us to use the name of Father Zimbabwe as a brand for this great event. We will always cherish Joshua Mqabuko Nkomoa��s unifying principles. We honour the efforts of this great leader and the tournament, which we are thinking of making an annual event, comes as a way of giving back to the community,a�? said Mpofu.
Winners of the tournament will get $2 400, with the losing finalists pocketing $1 500. Losing semi-finalists are set to walk away with $700 each. Teams knocked out in the first round will get $300 each. The rest of the package will be used to pay match officials and hire stadia.
Online Reporter