Full kit up for grabs at Inyathi Football Tournament

**Khumbulani Moyo with part of the kit to be won at his football tournament**

Mehluli Sibanda, Senior Sports Reporter
THE annual Khumbulani Moyo-sponsored New Year’s Day football tournament is on at Badala Business Centre in Inyathi tomorrow with a full playing kit as well as monetary rewards in store for the participants.

Four teams, three from Inyathi and one from South Africa will take to the field to battle for supremacy. The teams are defending champions Bubi, mostly made up of South Africa-based Zimbabweans, Black Swallows, Best and Shooting Stars.

Moyo, a South Africa-based businessman has been bankrolling the tournament since 2013 with this year’s sponsorship standing at $2 000. His motive is to expose more talent from Inyathi while helping young people stay out of crime and substance abuse.

“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. We are trying to ensure that the young people stay out of crime and conscientise locals on the dangers of HIV/Aids and promote gender equity. We are trying to unearth new talent which can later benefit the community,’’ he said.

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

Last year, Bubi defeated Inyathi Pirates 2-0 in the final. Some of the players who have made an appearance at this tournament are former Highlanders striker Prince Dube who played for Shooting Stars in 2015. This is the club where the SuperSport United striker started off his career while at Somvubu High School and he appeared at the tournament as a way of bidding farewell to his teammates a well as people of Inyathi when he was elevated to the Bosso first team. Bret Ndlovu, a right back who can also be deployed on the wing was the star performer at the 2017 event where he was voted the Player of the Tournament.

Ndlovu impressed Canada-based former AmaZulu and Zimbabwe Warriors goalkeeper Dominic Sithole who was the guest of honour. Efforts to facilitate a move to a Premier Soccer League team for Ndlovu did not materialise since he is contracted to Zifa Southern Region Division One side Talen Vision.