adminNgoni Dapira Sports Correspondent
THE Ministry of Sports and Recreation is on a drive to prop-up sports at grassroots level by pushing for the formation of sport development committees. This was said last Sunday during the annual Burma Valley Top-Eight Soccer tournament at the Burma Valley Community Ground. Mutare District sports development and promotion officer, Clifford Mujoko during prize handover to the tournament winner, Burma Estate FC, said the Sports Ministry was eyeing development of all sporting disciplines in every ward.
“The Ministry of Sports and Recreation is driving nationally the formation of sport development committees in every ward. “This will enable us to have a database of sporting disciplines in every ward to steer the development of sports at grassroots level. The structure of each committee in every ward will comprise of a chairperson, vice-chairperson, secretary, treasurer and a committee member. The ward councilor automatically becomes the advisor of the committee,” said Mujoko. Mujoko added that the committees would also press on the Sports Ministry’s vision of inclusivity of the disabled in sports at ward level.
“We have the Paralympics Games but a lot of disabled children and youths at ward level are often left out because of poor structures at grassroots level. However, through these committees not only will we build our sports from ward level going up and improve our efficiency in terms of outreach and being hands-on,” he said. Burma Valley (Ward seven) councilor, Itai Katsaruware commended the practicality of the sports development committees particularly in talent identification in the rural communities. “We have been holding this tournament since 2002 and we are eager about the sports development committees drive. I feel this will go a long way to tap talent especially in our rural communities,” said Katsaruware.
Burma Estate FC won the final against Mazonwe FC in the tournament which drew eight-teams from within the ward. Matanuska FC was the third runners-up despite having entered the tournament as the favourites after recently having clinched the Burma Valley League trophy hosted by Mutare South legislator and Women Affairs, Gender and Community Development Minister, Nyasha Chikwinya.
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