adminSikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
PRINCIPAL primary schools football sponsors in the three Matabeleland provinces, Ingwebu Breweries has introduced a girls football tournament whose sponsorship package will be unveiled next year.The girls will, however, start playing soccer this year where they will be the main curtain raisers for the boys beginning tomorrow at Pelandaba Stadium in Gwanda, Matabeleland South venue for the provincial finals.
Ingwebu Breweries’ sales, marketing and corporate affairs manager Nkosana Ndlovu confirmed the new development yesterday.
“We are introducing girls soccer in 2014. We will start with the girls curtain raising for the boys this year, 2014, and the full sponsorship will be unveiled to cater for the girls from all the provinces in 2015,” said Ndlovu.
From Matabeleland South, the next province to hold its provincial finals will be Matabeleland North in Jotsholo on July 11 with Bulawayo competitions being held a week later at Barbourfields.
Matabeleland North will host the grand finale on August 1 where each of the three provinces’ winners will battle it out for honours. The host province as has been the case, will be given two slots although they have been calls to reserve the slot for the defending champions.
Meanwhile, the opaque beer brewers have increased their total sponsorship package to $39,500, up from $36,000 last year as the company continues to promote football from the grassroots.
The tournament has over the years seen some untapped talent being identified and some of the players who have participated in the tournament include former Soccer Star of the Year and Highlanders striker Charles Sibanda, Chicken Inn’s hardman Guide Goddard and Nust’s George Duburo.
derick.khumalo