Four teams for Inyathi New Year’s Day football tournament

Mehluli Sibanda, Senior Sports Reporter
FOUR teams, three of them from Inyathi with the other made up of Zimbabweans domiciled in South Africa go into battle at Badala Business Centre in Inyathi for the annual Khumbulani Moyo-sponsored New Year’s Day football tournament.

Defending champions Shooting Stars, Black Swallows and Inyathi Rovers are the local-based teams while Bubi is a side with most of its players living in South Africa will be on display in the sixth edition of the tournament on Tuesday.

In the draw conducted last Thursday, Shooting Stars will take on Bubi with the other semi-final to be contested by Black Swallows and Inyathi Rovers. The winners of the two matches will then meet in the final where a full playing kit, trophy, medals and monetary rewards in store for the participants.

**Khumbulani Moyo with part of the kit to be won at his New Year’s Day tournament in Inyathi**

Moyo, a South Africa-based businessman has been bankrolling the tournament since 2013 with this year’s sponsorship standing at $2 500.

His intention is to expose more talent from Inyathi while helping young people in the area to stay out of crime and substance abuse.

“All is set for our annual New Year’s Day tournament at Badala Business Centre in Inyathi. We met with the teams on Thursday and conducted the draw. Our first prize is a full kit with playing tops, shorts and socks. There are also monetary prizes and soccer balls for all the teams taking part,’’ he said.

This year the final had to be moved after heavy rains saw the pitch being waterlogged.

Moyo, who is also the Highlanders South Africa Supporters Chapter secretary-general, is in the construction industry in the neighbouring country. He is the owner of Gauteng Hut Construction, which employs 40 people, the bulk of them being Zimbabweans.