Nkayi District breaks new ground in girls’ soccer

Blessing Karubwa

IN a potential first for Nkayi District in Matabeleland North Province, 12 primary school pupils participated in this year’s national schools girls’ soccer competition recently held at the United College of Education (UCE) in Bulawayo.

Additionally, the district also made history, coming out winners in the provincial girls soccer sports competitions, an effort which saw pupils from Nkayi district’s different schools participating at the national level.

The Matabeleland North Provincial girls’ soccer team comprised 18 pupils from various schools in Nkayi District, including Dakamela Primary, Mkalathi Primary, and Magaza Primary schools.

In an interview, National Association of Primary Heads (NAPH) Matabeleland North Sports chairperson, Wilson Ndlovu, expressed satisfaction with the pupils’ performance, highlighting that they had made history for the district. He said most players were from Dakamela Primary School.

“We are incredibly excited as history has been made. For the first time, pupils from different schools in Nkayi formed a team that competed at the national level. They showcased exceptional skills that amazed many, proving that rural girls can excel at football.

“We had a total of 18 players on the Matabeleland North Girls soccer team, with nine players coming from Dakamela Primary School. The remaining players represented various schools within the district and province,” he said.

He said Nkayi district became number eight amongst the teams which participated in the national games, adding that it was their first time to compete in the national finals.

Chief Dakamela, who recently awarded some of the players who participated in the national games, stated that this achievement indicates Nkayi’s emergence as a competitive district, dismissing the moniker “Komnyamubambile.”

“It doesn’t matter whether someone is from Nkayi, often perceived as Zimbabwe’s most underdeveloped district. What truly matters is the dedication, support, and drive of these children. I am proud of these pupils. We aspire to see some of them representing our country on the national team in the near future.

“No more of this ‘Komnyamubambile’ mentality. Our children have proven their worth on the national stage, bringing light to our community. As Mother Teresa said, ‘if you see a dark place don’t complain about it, instead bring light to make it shine and be visible to everyone.’ These girls have made Nkayi shine,” said Chief Dakamela.