Vusumuzi Dube
Fungai Muderere, Senior Sports Reporter
FORMER Highlanders, Railstars and Zisco FC attacking midfielder Collen Nyambiya has added to the voice that young footballers should shun drug and substance abuse.
He said that is detrimental to budding sportspersons. Nyambiya, who is the brains behind Bulawayo’s acclaimed Young Fly Stars Academy, was speaking at the Dumisani Ndlovu Foundation Football Tournament finals that were played at Mtshabezi High School in Gwanda district on Friday where he was the guest of honour.
The year-long tournament is played through the three school terms in a round robin format featuring Mtshabezi, Milton, Entumbane and Gifford. Mtshabezi was hosting the last instalment of the year of this contest. “Thank you for coming to participate in this tournament. This is a creative initiative that is set to facilitate your moves to Premier Soccer League clubs, European teams and academies in and around the country. However, a very good player also needs to be intelligent. Be good at sports and also read your books.
“I would like to emphasise that it has been a pity to see youngsters engage in drug and substance abuse.
No to ‘njengu’ please. Highly consider balancing your school and sport. I noticed you are very good players, let’s not lose hope and focus,” said Nyambiya who also had a playing stint in Albania.
Illicit drug use among pupils is prevalent. Adolescent substance abuse remains a problem and a major concern for parents and society at large amid reports that there are a number of risk factors that place young people in a vulnerable position for experimenting and becoming hooked on drugs and alcohol.
For any parent watching helplessly as drugs or alcohol change their child, the worry and pain are all-consuming.
Nyambiya’s sentiments were echoed by celebrated former Mighty Warriors midfielder and captain Nomsa “Boys” Moyo who also encouraged girl footballers to aim higher.
“I’m happy we came here to gather for a noble cause which is football. Let’s kick out drug and substance abuse. To you girls, the sky is the limit. I’m really happy that Zimbabwe as a country has been accepted back into the Fifa family, so let’s work hard. Don’t look down upon yourselves. The Mighty Warriors were involved in the Cosafa Cup in South Africa where they did well.
So, to you girls, I say go there and seek to be our next Mighty Warriors,” Moyo who is also the Footballers Union of Zimbabwe (Fuz) treasurer. Moyo, who played along Sithethelelwe “Kwinji15” Sibanda who is now the Mighty Warriors assistant coach, had over 100 caps and 96 goals for Zimbabwe.
The Dumisani Ndlovu Foundation event was this year dominated by Entumbane in both the boys and girls’ categories. In the boys’ section, it was a day that was punctuated with low scoring. Entumbane, who went to the finals with 20 points under their belt, drew all their three games to finish the contest on 23 points. Gifford claimed second spot with 14 points. The hosts Mtshabezi and Milton were tied on 13 points. Mtshabezi got the third spot courtesy of a superior goal difference.
In the girls’ category, there was one match that saw Entumbane edge Mtshabezi 1-0 to claim the top prize. The competition was previously disturbed by the Covid-19 pandemic, which saw no action taking place in 2020, 2021 and 2022.
Online Reporter