Chronicle Editor
Sikhumbuzo Moyo, Senior Sports Reporter
FORMER Highlanders and national team former speedy winger Joel Luphahla will be the star attraction at the annual Madlangombe Football Tournament that will feature four teams in Tsholotsho South constituency today.
Sponsored by South Africa-based Zimbabwean Mthabisi Mlingo, who hails from the area located about 25km from Tsholotsho business centre, the teams that will square off for the prize money are local sides Bhulubisa, Batategulu, New Stars and Buffalo Strikers from Emakhandeni suburb in Bulawayo.
Luphahla hails from Tsholotsho district and worked his way to command a regular jersey in a star-studded Highlanders outfit that bullied local opponents.
He was also a member of the Warriors’ squad that qualified for its maiden African Cup of Nations finals in 2004 where he was one of the scorers alongside the late Adam Ndlovu when they beat Algeria 2-1.
Besides the league triumph with Highlanders, Luphahla also has a Cosafa Castle Cup winners’ medal with the Warriors. He also had stints in Cyprus before relocating to South Africa to turn out for Platinum Stars until a horrific injury cut short his career.
“Luphahla confirmed that he will grace our tournament and also wants to have a run just to show the youngsters one or two tricks and we feel greatly honoured by this,” said Mlingo, who has been sponsoring the tournament since its inception five years ago.
Previous editions have left spectators convinced that Tsholotsho has plenty untapped talent and Mlingo hopes his tournament will provide the country with future stars, if Premier Soccer League coaches or scouts take time to watch the tourney.
“As we have previously said, we are always disturbed by negative news coming from our district, especially during this time of the year, and I want to use this tournament to provide entertainment and give the youths a chance to make it in life. You never know, some clubs might send scouts that will identify raw talent and the world will know that the boy was seen in a tournament at Madlangombe in Tsholotsho South,” said Mlingo.
The winner is set to get a full kit, medals and a trophy. – @skhumoyo2000
Online Reporter