Online Reporter
Fairness Moyana recently in Mabale
MABALE and Nabushome Primary Schools in Hwange District have emerged victorious at the second edition of the Sabona Trust-Krantz Soccer Tournament, with both teams holding their nerve in dramatic penalty shootouts to lift the coveted trophies after their finals ended in draws.
Mabale Primary School clinched the boys’ title, while Nabushome Primary School were crowned champions in the girls’ category during a recent colourful tournament held at Dopota Primary School.
Lupote Primary School finished as runners-up in the boys’ competition, with Nabushome taking bronze, while Dopota Primary School settled for second place in the girls’ tournament as Lupote claimed bronze.
Mabale’s Pride Moyo walked away with the boys’ ‘Golden Boot’ after finishing as the tournament’s top scorer, while Awande Ncube of Nabushome earned the same honour in the girls’ competition following an impressive goal-scoring campaign.
Speaking at the prize-giving ceremony, Hwange District Schools Inspector, Mr Lawrence Hastings Matshazi praised Sabona Trust for using sport as a vehicle for education and community development.
“Football unites communities, inspires young people and teaches values that extend far beyond the playing field. It develops discipline, teamwork, resilience, respect, leadership and determination- qualities that help young people become responsible citizens and future leaders,” he said.
Matshazi commended the organisation for complementing Government efforts through education sponsorship, school feeding and poverty alleviation programmes, saying the initiatives were transforming the lives of vulnerable children.
“Today’s tournament is much more than a competition for trophies and medals. It is a celebration of opportunity, inclusion and community partnership. It demonstrates what can be achieved when organisations work hand in hand with schools, parents, community leaders and development partners to invest in our young people,” he said.
Matshazi urged learners to remain disciplined both on and off the field, reminding them that true champions are defined not only by victories but also by their character and respect for others.
Sabona Trust Project Coordinator, Mr Hlanganiso Moyo said the organisation was founded after Norwegian national, Ingrid Solholm visited Dopota in 1999 and witnessed the hardships facing learners, including hunger and poverty.
He said what began as a school feeding initiative later evolved into a fully-fledged non-governmental organisation operating in both Zimbabwe and Norway to mobilise resources for education and community development.
“We realised that simply feeding children was not enough. We needed to address the root causes of poverty by supporting education, improving livelihoods and creating opportunities for children to develop holistically,” said Moyo.
Beyond school feeding and education sponsorship from primary to tertiary level, the organisation also implements water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) projects, drilling boreholes and establishing nutrition gardens that improve food security and household incomes.
Moyo said the Krantz Soccer Tournament was introduced to ensure learners also benefit from sporting opportunities.
“We are not only focusing on academic excellence. We also want to nurture children who are gifted in sport, as well as those who excel both in the classroom and on the field. We believe every child deserves an opportunity to realise their full potential,” he said.
Moyo explained that the tournament is supported by the Krantz family from Norway, who invested specifically in the sporting component of Sabona Trust’s programmes.
“This is the second edition of the tournament and it is encouraging to see new champions emerging. It shows that talent is spread across our schools and healthy competition is growing every year,” he said.
Moyo said Sabona Trust currently supports five partnership primary schools; Dopota, Mabale, Nabushome, Lupote and Sianyanga where it pays school fees for vulnerable learners and provides meals to every child regardless of their family background.
“The feedback from school heads has been very encouraging. Attendance has improved significantly because children know they will receive a nutritious meal at school, allowing them to concentrate on their studies,” he said.
Although Sianyanga Primary School failed to qualify for the finals, Moyo said the school was still presented with footballs and a pump to encourage learners to continue training for next year’s competition.
The Sabona Trust is a grassroots aid organization operating in rural Matabeleland North, including the Hwange and Lupane districts. They focus on long-term community development, running vital local initiatives for education, healthcare, and sustainable agriculture.
Colletta Dube