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Innocent Kurira, Sports Reporter
FORMER Highlanders player Noel Cele has praised United Kingdom based Mduduzi Nkiwane for making efforts to curb drug abuse which has killed many young people and is still wreaking havoc.
Nkiwane has come up with Mdula Foundation which is aimed at taking youths off the street and giving them a chance to excel through football. Cele is part of the Mdula Foundation which held its inaugural juniors tournament at the weekend.
“It is good to keep these young boys out of the streets and away from drugs and alcohol. As a foundation we are looking forward to organise more tournaments in helping local junior teams to develop kids at grassroots level with football equipment. As the foundation we discovered that in Bulawayo there’s a lot of talent but these youngsters end up on drugs and alcohol because of lack of proper guidance. We believe the foundation creates a safe and fun environment for young people to enjoy the beautiful game of football,” said Cele.
He is one of the Highlanders players that managed to play for all junior national teams in the country from the Under 17s, Under-20s and Under-23s. He is known by many for the 1996 Cosafa Youth Cup, played in Botswana. Cele played one of his best games ever during that short tournament. The first edition of the Mdula tournament was won by Thorngrove who beat Makokoba Tigers 2-1 at Thorngrove Grounds. On their way to the final Thorngrove had won the semi-final against Entumbane Stars by a similar score line.
Thorngrove received a trophy and gold medals for winning and silver medals went to Makokoba Tigers as losing finalists. Zifa Bulawayo Francis Ntuta and Sibekiwe Ndlovu, a member of the Zifa Women Football Committee presented the medals.
The player of the tournament accolade went to Leon Mpofu while Blessing Muchato got the top goal scorer gong with two goals. Quinton Phiri was the goalkeeper of the tournament.
Former players were also present at the first annual tournament the likes of Philemon Dangarembwa, Johannes Tshuma, Gift Lunga Snr, Nkosana Gumbo, Abraham Mbaiwa, Simba Rusike and Wonderful Mpofu. — @innocentskizoe
Online Reporter