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The function was a draw for eight under-16 teams that will be participating in the tournament from 19-20 May at White City Stadium in the build up to Mwaruwari testimonial at the National Sports Stadium in Harare later this month.
An emotional Mwaruwari broke down during his brief address to the crowd that was made up of Zimbabwean soccer legends and members of the community.
“All I can do is give back to the community that moulded me into the man I am today and I would ask all the former and current players to support me in my drive to make a difference to the youngsters from our communities who also have big dreams,” he said.
Highlanders, Rising Stars, Emakhandeni Pirates and FMH FC will square off in group A while Ajax Hotspurs, Bantu Rovers, Magwegwe Secondary School and Magwegwe Young Stars will battle in group B in a round robin format with the winner from each group taking on the runners up from the next group.
The two finalists will get a full kit apiece while the winners will be treated to a trip of a lifetime to Harare for Benjani’s testimonial match where they will meet up with international stars in the mould of Didier Drogba, Alex Song, and Steven Piennar.
Faith Dube, secretary for the tournament’s organising committee, said they had decided against giving prize-money to youngsters in a bid to avoid mercenary tendencies in future footballers.
“We did not want to have a prize-money tournament as it instils the wrong motives for playing soccer at a tender age. Yes, money is always the issue in the long run but in young footballers there is more to gain apart from money”.
“In any case the money that will be spent on the trip will be more than the $1 000 or $2 000 that we might have given as prize money, we want them to meet the stars so they can aspire to be like them,” he said.
Former Warriors coach Ernest “Maphepha” Sibanda, who was the guest of honour, said discipline in soccer was the most important aspect.
“I will tell you that Benjani here was not the most fantastic player you would see but his discipline stood out and that is why I made him my captain and when I stepped down, I removed him because others would have misunderstood him,” Sibanda said.
The event was graced by Mwaruwari’s parents, his wife, the headmaster of Magwegwe High school Pilate Tshuma and a myriad of soccer legends.
The draw
Group A: Highlanders, Rising Stars, Emakhandeni Pirates, FMH FC.
Group B: Ajax Hotspurs, Bantu Rovers, Magwegwe Secondary School, Magwegwe Young Stars.
Online Reporter