Dynamos Supporters clinch Townshend and Butcher tournament

DYNAMOS Bulawayo Chapter Supporters were crowned champions of the 67th edition of the Townshend and Butcher tournament after a 2-1 victory over Makokoba Shooters at White City Stadium yesterday.

Goals from Shelton Sibanda and James Chitereki secured the trophy for the DeMbare fans. Makokoba Shooters went in front first via a Tinashe Makonye strike in the first half.

In the third place play-off held at the same venue, Palace FC beat Highlanders Supporters 5-1.
This year’s tournament saw the involvement of eight teams each from Bafa and the HIV Prevention League taking part.
Each league provided eight teams and now only two remain.

On their way to the final, the DeMbare Chapter beat Palace FC 3-0 with Chitereki scoring a hat trick in that game.
Makokoba Shooters beat Bosso Supporters Chapter 2-0 in the semi-final for a date with DeMbare Chapter in the final.

Before the start of association football in the 1960s, Bafa ran football for Africans at a time Europeans had their own.
Bafa had the Townshend and Butcher Trophy and qualifiers for the Osborne Trophy which was a national amateur tournament.

There were also inter-cities competitions made up of Select teams with Bulawayo’s Select known as Red Army.
Bafa chairperson, Charles Chunda said in the 1950s legends like Mackenzie Sibanda, Edward Dzowa, Edward Dlamini, Matthew “303” Marume, Jambok, Scholar, Nichodemus Sibanda and the Makhanda brothers Chester and Gibson were some of the big names.

The likes of Lawrence Phiri, Billy Sibanda, Barry Daka, Ananias Dube, Mike Moyo, Melusi Sibanda, Mapleni Nyathi were among some of the emerging stars as the tournament completed its first decade and would follow up with a generation that had Albert Dube, Kainot Luphahla and Peter Nkomo, among those that rose to prominence.

Former Black Mambas and Blackpool steely defender Joseph Dube played in the tournament for Mat High City in the 1980s among a host of other young players who would later rise to prominence in Division Two, Division One and the Premiership. — @innocentskizoe.