adminGotchie Gotchie were crowned the 2011 champions.
There was pomp and fanfare at the popular KwaMereki joint at Harare’s high-density suburb of Warren Park D where the function was held in conjunction with the 10th anniversary celebrations of Gotchie Gotchie Butchery – the sponsors of the team which lifted the Harare Marketers Soccer League title for the second-year running.
Fourteen teams play in the league, which was formed last year.
And the team from Warren Park D retained the title this year, winning it by a 16-point margin from the second-placed team.
Saturday saw all the 14 teams from the Harare Marketers Soccer League converging at KwaMereki Shopping Centre in Warren Park D where Gotchie Gotchie were handed this year’s league title.
Gotchie Gotchie also took the opportunity to honour their most outstanding players of the year during Saturday’s function, which was sponsored by two Harare companies, Hunters and Lightview Properties, to the tune of US$10 000.
Hunters are the main sponsors of the Harare Marketers Soccer League.
Clemence “Ababa” Masumba was named as Gotchie Gotchie’s Soccer Star of the Year while Elton “Magwenzi” Madamombe was crowned as the Players’ Player of the Year.
They both walked away with US$200 and a food hamper each.
Timothy Timothy, who scored 16 goals for Gotchie Gotchie during the 2011 season, walked away with the team’s Golden Boot award while Ephraim Aritura lifted the Most Improved Player accolade.
Edward Rupiya was named as the team’s Most Disciplined Player with the Goalkeeper of the Year award going to Bruce Matekenya.
Hondo Gachira was also crowned as the Most Committed Player of the Year at the same function on Saturday where the owner of Gotchie Gotchie Butchery, Darlington
Dumba, indicated that he was looking at buying a Northern Region Division One franchise for the team next year.
“After winning the Harare Marketers Soccer League title for two years on the trot, I don’t see it wise for the team to continue playing in this league. So, I’m thinking of securing a Northern Region Division One franchise for the team next year with the aim of seeing them playing in the Premier Soccer League the following year,” Dumba said.
This is not the first time that Dumba has been involved in sponsoring football locally as in 2009 he sponsored a challenge match between Harare soccer giants Dynamos and the now-defunct Premier Soccer League side Douglas Warriors at Rufaro. And now he’s looking at coming into local football in a big way by buying a
Northern Region Division One franchise for his team Gotchie Gotchie next year.
Online Reporter