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Tadious Manyepo Sports Reporter
GUEST side Harare Select were crowned champions of the eighth edition of the Parkston Choto football tournament at Numwa-Mhakwe grounds in Wedza on Sunday.
The Harare side were good value for their 1-0 win in the final against St Paul’s Sango.
The tournament started last week with 12 teams taking part at Wedza Centre but it couldn’t be concluded due to darkness.
Organisers had to reschedule the competition for Sunday at Numwa School and Mhakwe.
And Harare Select, who had several rising prospects, emerged the winners, narrowly beating the vastly improved Sango who are under the tutelage of Silence Madiro.
The winners beat Mhakwe in the semi-finals while Sango accounted for Wedza United in a match Courage Chakudunga, Johannes Nyahuye, Tendai Muganhu, Eddie Madiro and Israel “Mancho” Nyakura were impressive.
The eighth edition of the football fiesta is part of the series which was launched in February this year.
Scouts, including Whawha coach Luke Petros, were also in attendance and they selected a handful of players who showed potential.
Sponsor of the series, Parkston Choto, said the ultimate aim remains that of affording a chance to the marginalised communities to get a platform to get the much-needed exposure.
“I am impressed to see rural teams standing toe-to-toe with a select side from Harare.
“The select team from Harare consists of players who have once played at the highest level of football and those who are just cutting their teeth,” said Choto.
“So to see teams from here matching them is fantastic.
“That gives me a lot of willpower to continue pouring in resources. It means there is talent in these youngsters.
“I am willing to continue sponsoring these series so that we can help these youngsters develop into good players. Scouts are willing to come this side and we have some from as far as Hwange coming for these series.
“We are happy there are more than seven players who have since been selected for further development by academies and clubs.”
Tournament organiser, Brighton Choto, said the next of the series will be staged at Sango in two weeks’ time.
“The good thing is that we are all walking in the same direction.
The sponsor, the technical committee, the players and parents.
“Our vision is to see the youngsters grow into good players,” he said.
“We are trying to empower these boys through football.”
Online Reporter