‘MPs have role to play in national team funding’

Ngqwele Dube, Sports Correspondent

ARCHERS Darts Club patron, who is also the Vungu Member of Parliament, Hon Omega Sibanda, yesterday said MPs have a big role to play in pushing the Government to fund national teams.

Speaking at the Bulawayo Metropolitan Province Darts Association 2019 awards presentation ceremony at Archers Sports Club, Hon Sibanda said he was ready to convince other MPs to lobby for the funding of teams representing the nation as there was a serious funding deficit.

“I would like to applaud those who fork out money from their own pockets to ensure they take part in sporting activities and as Members of Parliament, we are going to be lobbying for Government to fund sports in general and national teams in particular.”

Hon Sibanda gave special mention to Value Gas who have been sponsoring Archers saying the partnership has seen the club win two provincial championships in a row. Speaking at the same occasion, National Darts Association of Zimbabwe president, Meynard Moyo said he was intent on seeing changes to the sport to ensure it is played in a family-friendly environment.

He said following the establishment of leagues at secondary school level , they will now be engaging primary schools to ensure youngsters are introduced to the sport at a tender age.

“We need to clean up our sport if we are going to be comfortable bringing in sponsors and families to the game. It has been difficult to call potential sponsors to come and attend games as erratic behaviour at matches has been our problem,” said Moyo.

The occasion saw the crowning of Archers Darts Club as the 2019 winners, with the silver medal going to Railstars while Hillside came third and were awarded the bronze medal. Archers and Hillside represented the province at the Champion of Champions tournament held last weekend in Kwekwe with the former exiting at the semifinal stage while the latter reached the quarterfinals.

Archers’ Mgcini Nkala walked away with the most individual awards, bagging the Most Match Plays, Most Games Won and Most 6 Packs while Railstars’ Ndabezinhle Ngwenya won the Most 180s award after notching 11 180s last season. Godfrey Mazonde of School of Mines won the Chairman’s singles award.