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Collin Matiza Sports Editor
LEGENDARY former Warriors goalkeeper Japhet “Shortcat” M’parutsa will this Saturday host the inaugural Mbare Primary Schools Sports Tournament at Chitsere Primary School.
M’parutsa wrote his own piece of history when he became the first goalkeeper to win the prestigious Soccer Star of the Year award while he was turning out for Dynamos in 1982. He is now running his Japhet M’parutsa Sports Foundation.
Now based in England, he sources funds and sport kits which have over the past two years been distributed to schools and underprivileged children in and around Harare under the foundation.
The foundation is being run locally by the legendary goalkeeper’s cousin Clifford, a former footballer himself.
This Saturday, the foundation takes to the sprawling high density suburb of Mbare for the primary schools sports tournament at Chitsere, which is M’parutsa’s former school, where young boys and girls will converge for the one-day sports gala. M’parutsa also grew up in Mbare. The young athletes will compete in three sporting disciplines – soccer, netball and volleyball.
And M’parutsa, now a devout Christian, recently said he was hosting this sports gala as a way of giving back to the community that he grew up in.
“I grew up in Mbare, went to school in Mbare, started playing football in Mbare. I became (the winner of the) Soccer Star of the Year award while staying in Mbare,’’ he posted on his Facebook page.
“Mbare made me and Mbare will always be close to my heart.
“I might have moved away to reside in other parts of Harare later in my career, I might have flown thousands of miles across oceans to find myself in the UK, but my umbilical cord has not been cut, it remains attached to this great suburb.
“My desire to see the young people of Mbare excelling in both their academic and sporting dreams remains undiminished. It is with this in mind that the Japhet M’parutsa Foundation presents its first Mbare (Primary Schools) Sports Tournament on the 8th of September 2018.’’
He said more was in store for other schools.
“This is the beginning, so only a few primary schools – Gwinyai, Nharira and Chitsere – will be involved, but it will definitely grow with time.
“The choice of venue is deliberate, Chitsere Primary School, it is where it all began for me.
“Join us as we continue to empower the youths, for indeed empowered youths will make a healthy Nation.
“We thank our partners Dairibord Zimbabwe, Kwese, iflix and Econet for the support. To all the trustees of the Japhet “Shortcat” M’parutsa Foundation, I say sisonke! together as one.’’
He also told The Herald from his base in England yesterday that winners on Saturday will be presented with trophies and sport kits in the form of netballs, volleyballs and soccer balls.
“We are also looking at donating some rugby balls to Mbare Rugby Academy on the day,” M’parutsa said.
“I would also like to thank our team of Martin Changachirere, Patience M’parutsa-Chigwida and Joe Munyebvu, who were working on the ground.”
The Saturday’s sports gala will be graced by a number of prominent people, including the legendary George “Mastermind” Shaya, who will be among the guests of honour.
Other local football greats such as David “Broomboy” George, Stanley “Samora” Chirambadare, Edward Sadomba and Stewart “Shutto” Murisa are also among the invited guests on Saturday. Popular local football commentator Charles “CNN” Mabika said the staging of the Mbare Primary Schools Sports Tournament by the Japhet M’parutsa Foundation is a noble gesture which will go a long way in helping the development of sport at grassroots level in this country.
M’parutsa was born in Mbare and grew up in Mwamuka Street, which is just a stone’s throw away from Chitsere Primary School.
His career took him to Harare Hospital Football Club before he was spotted by former Warriors coach Shepherd Murape, who later coached him at Dynamos and army side Black Rhinos.
M’parutsa also played for the now-defunct Darryn T before he joined South African Premiership side Bloemfontein Celtics.
Online Reporter