Former teacher donates uniforms, supports drug and substance abuse fight

Lovemore Dube,Zimpapers Sports Hub

A former teacher who is now based in the UK, working as a social worker, has revealed his ambition of restoring the dignity of sports persons by donating sportswear as he fights drug and substance abuse.

Mbusi Dube, speaks of his time growing up in Matobo District, going to a mission secondary school and having to strip tops while playing football.

It was the norm back then, before the new millennium, for one of the teams to strip and have the other play with tops.

But on looking back, Dube says that it stripped some of their dignity.

Sport brings everyone together and the insistence on uniforms brings everyone to one level burying the notion that there are ‘haves’ and ‘have nots’.

Dube told Zimpapers Sports Hub on Wednesday, after delivering four sets of uniforms to teams based in Matobo who took part in a four-team tournament at Maphisa Centre, that sport is a useful tool to engage communities. He said it brings people together for reasons of entertainment, wellness and livelihood, hence the decision to use it to fight social ills.

He said the uniforms had been sourced through a friend of his Paul who is based in Bormingham in the United Kingdom.

The event was to raise awareness about the dangers of drug and substance abuse, early teenage pregnancies and gender based violence.

“The fight is on, we want a better society. We all have a responsibility to the fight and a better future for our communities. To be honest in the seven hours I was at Maphisa, I was impressed to see a sober people watching football and well behaved.

Not even a single person carrying a Njengu container, we happy sport in the area is being used to combat social ills.
“As a result I feel very motivated to bring more sporting equipment and help in the development our youths and communities.

Growing up we played on bare skins on sweltering heat. Uniforms make us all look alike united by team spirit and looking as equals,” said Dube.
A local businessman Nothani Jiyane also supported the tournament initiative.