Football death tourney not sanctioned

Raymond Jaravaza/ Nkosilodumo Ndebele
THE aborted women soccer tournament that was cancelled before the ball was even kicked after the tragic drowning of a player at a Bulawayo lodge swimming pool was not sanctioned by the relevant authorities, B-Metro Sport can reveal.

Female footballer Pamela Zhuwao (25) of Zim Scorpions aï¿½ï¿½ a Mhondoro-based side sponsored by Ngezi Platinum aï¿½ï¿½ drowned in a swimming pool minutes after the teamaï¿½ï¿½s arrival in Bulawayo for a pre-season tour.

The tragic incident occurred last Friday.

The local women football custodians aï¿½ï¿½ the Southern Region Womenaï¿½ï¿½s League aï¿½ï¿½ have come out blazing at the organisers of the tourney for staging the event without notifying the relevant body.

Southern Region Womenaï¿½ï¿½s League boss Takundwa Chimundiya said he only learnt about the five-team tournament after the tragic incident that claimed the Zim Scorpions goalkeeper.

aï¿½?I was told about the unfortunate incident three days after it happened when the organisers wanted our (the regional executive committee) presence at the sending off of the deceasedaï¿½ï¿½s body to Norton for burial.

aï¿½?Thataï¿½ï¿½s when we learnt that a five-team tournament had been organised for that weekend. But itaï¿½ï¿½s standard procedure for the regional executive to be notified of such tournaments because some of the teams that were meant to play in that tournament fall under our league.

aï¿½?Itaï¿½ï¿½s unfortunate that a life was lost and we send our condolences to the deceasedaï¿½ï¿½s family and the team,aï¿½? said Chimundiya.

Zim Scorpions were supposed to play four Bulawayo sides Burrow Jets, Sojini, Street Set and Ubuntu FC at Matabeleland Busters grounds. Kholwani Mpofu, who was part of the organising team, of Ubuntu FC said the incident occurred before they had time to notify the Southern Region Womenaï¿½ï¿½s League.

aï¿½?We were planning to notify the league leadership when the visiting team arrived in Bulawayo for the tournament but unfortunately the incident happened very fast and before we knew it the girl had passed away,aï¿½? said Mpofu.

The deceased was laid to rest in Norton last Tuesday.

Ngezi Platinum, the sponsors of Zim Scorpions, chairman Jeremiah Gasiteni was not reachable for comment as he was said to be out of the country. .