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Senior Sports Reporter
A new format has been adopted for the Dumisani Ndlovu Foundation Schools Under-15 Football tournament with the league arrangement discarded for a round robin in order to reduce fixture overcrowding as well as travel expenditure.
Six boys’ schools and two for girls will however, make an appearance on the final day of the tournament in August. During a meeting held by all stakeholders recently, it was agreed that it was better to have all the four teams assemble at one venue and play each other as opposed to the previous situation where there were two fixtures played on the same day at two locations.
Milton, Mtshabezi, Entumbane and Gifford are the schools which make up the tournament which is sponsored by Zimbabwe trained, United Kingdom-based English school teacher.
“The league format has been dropped in favour of round robin tournaments. This will reduce fixture congestion. Two tournaments will be held, one in the first term and the second in the second term. The first tournament will be held at Milton on the 18th of March and the second one will be hosted by Entumbane on the 27th of May,’’ read the minutes of the planning meeting.
From the tournaments, the top two teams will then meet in the final to be staged at Milton on 23 August where Ndlovu will be in attendance. Last year, Gifford used home advantage to good effect to successfully defend the title they won in 2015. The Nathan Tshuma-coached lads defeated Mtshabezi 4-1 in a penalty shootout to win the final which had concluded 1-1 in normal time. Gifford received a trophy and playing kit.
Donkwedonkwe from Kezi and another yet to be identified school from Tsholotsho are being drafted into the programme for the final day to make guest appearances. Another two girls schools will also play on the same day as Ndlovu looks to fulfill his promised of incorporating females into the tournament. In 2015, Ndlovu donated a kit to the school which is located in the same village where he comes from.
Ndlovu said a couple of Zimbabwean companies are supporting the Foundation this year although he did not mention them.
One of the volunteers, Arthur Mpuli indicated that they were ready for the third edition of the tournament which promises to be better than the two previous instalments.
“We are more than ready to host the games on the 18th of March, the grounds have been receiving constant attention, thanks to Milton High. This year’s competition will be bigger and better. For the finals in August we expect six boys’ teams and two girls’ teams. The sponsor will avail kits for all the finalists as usual and prizes,’’ said Mpuli.
The Dumisani Ndlovu Foundation which was officially launched at Mtshabezi High School in August 2015 also pays fees for selected outstanding players from the four schools. Ndlovu taught at Entumbane for four years having learnt at Gifford and Mtshabezi. His foundation is registered in England for now with Mpuli, Juliet Magwali and Gibson Mpala as some of the volunteers in Zimbabwe.
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Bongani Ndlovu