Let Them Play tourney on

Collin Matiza Sports Editor
SCORES of aspiring young soccer players will come together at Ngoni Stadium in Norton this Sunday where they will take part in the 3rd edition of the Let Them Play Under-13 tournament which will also be graced by a number of Zimbabwean football legends. The tournament is the brainchild of Vengayi Tinarwo, the director of Norton-based Aspire Youth Soccer Academy, and it is bankrolled by Bronzegate Investments, a pharmaceutical wholesale company that is based in the same Mashonaland West town, which is 40km outside Harare.

Tinarwo — who has a strong passion for soccer development at grassroots level — said 14 teams, drawn from around the country, will take part in this one-day football extravaganza at Ngoni Stadium on Sunday.

The 14 teams that will take part in this year’s Let Them Play Under-13 tournament are Aspire from Norton, Young Zebras (Chegutu), Cuma Football Academy (Kadoma), Bindura Football Academy (Bindura), Diaspora Academy, Atletico Pine Academy (both from Chitungwiza), CAPS United, Arcadia United, Black Rhinos, Datco, Highfield Academy, Total Football Academy, Manhingi Academy and Chamisa FC (all from Harare).
Tinarwo said these teams will be split into two groups and the top two teams from each group will proceed to the semi-finals.

“This the third edition of the Let Them Play tournament and there will be several prizes for the winners. We are also going to give individual awards for the Top Goalscorer, Golden Glove, the Most Promising Player, the Most Disciplined Team, the Best Midfielder, the Best Striker and the Best Defender.

“This tournament is all part of our junior development programme but we are not putting in any cash incentives because we want to avoid age-cheating . . . Our main aim is to develop these young players,” Tinarwo said.

George Mutongwizo of Bronzegate Investments, who are sponsoring this event, said they decided to partner Aspire Youth Soccer Academy in organising and running the Let Them Play tournament “as a way of giving back to the community in Norton”.

“This is also part of our continued efforts to keep the kids off the streets and to help Zimbabwe develop talented future soccer stars. We are really committed to this joint venture with Aspire Youth Soccer Academy and we are more than determined to make it a huge success,” Mutongwizo said.

Bronzegate Investments have also bought trophies, medals and shields that will be given to the winners at Sunday’s big event at Ngoni Stadium.

Sunday’s Let Them Play Under-13 tournament will be graced by a number of Zimbabwean soccer legends who will be led by former CAPS United coach, the legendary Freddie Mkwesha.

Dynamos captain Murape Murape will be the guest of honour at this event in which former DeMbare star players Misheck Chidzambwa, Henry “Beefy” Chari and Tonderayi Ndiraya will be among the invited guests.

“We have also invited Luke Petros-Jukulile from Kwekwe and former Black Aces striker Alan Mapila while Kingstone Rinomhota will be coming from Bindura together with Ishmael Jack, the owner of Bindura United who were recently promoted back into Division One.

“Kelvin Nyazema, the owner of Sprouting FC, and Onius Kadewere, the chairman of the Harare Province Junior League, will also be there. We are bringing all these prominent people to grace our event so that they will inspire the youngsters to scale greater heights in the beautiful game of football,” Tinarwo said.

Matches on Sunday will start at 9am with the final set to kick-off at 3pm.
Meanwhile, Tinarwo said plans are afoot for Aspire Youth Soccer Academy to send an Under-18 boys to the Gothia Cup in Gothenburg, Sweden, in July next year.

“We have now formalised everything that has been required by the organisers of the Gothia Cup inorder for us to take part in this tournament next year and we are now going to move a gear up in our fund-raising drive as we need to raise more than US$40 000 for our trip to Sweden in July,” Tinarwo said.

Pedzai Muusha, a Zimbabwean who is based in Gothenburg, is scheduled to arrive in Harare from Sweden on Monday night and is expected to help Aspire Youth Soccer Academy in their preparations for next year’s Gothia Cup during his short stay in Zimbabwe.