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Ricky Zililo, Senior Sports Reporter
A WATERLOGGED Njube Desert pitch forced organisers of the Gift Banda Football Tournament to postpone the final to a later date.
Njube Spurs and Vitality were on Saturday scheduled to clash in the development tournament whose participants were eight teams from Njube and Lobengula.
Bongani Mafu, a member of the tournament’s organising committee said:
“Unfortunately, due to the waterlogged pitch we’ve been forced to postpone the final to a later date. We’re in the rainy season, so it is difficult to state when Njube Spurs and Vitality will play their game.”
Eight Under-17 teams from Njube and Lobengula — Vitality, Njube Spurs, Njube United, LMC Youth Academy, Nkalikha Stars, Lobengula Rovers, Gugulesizwe and High Fliers took part in the tournament.
Lobengula City Queens had to play against an Under-13 boys select after their opponents Entumbane did not turn up for their women’s clash.
In an earlier third-place playoff encounter, High Fliers dispatched Gugulesizwe 3-0.
Mafu, the Hwange gaffer who is known for his passion for development, said all the teams received football equipment which will help in player development.
“Besides being affected by the rains, the tournament went on well, all participating teams will get training equipment which they will use for their sessions. Our hope is that the equipment will be put to good use,” Mafu said.
The tournament drew a big crowd, with Banda, a founder of the now defunct Njube Sundowns reiterating his commitment to junior development. Banda, the Njube Lobengula legislator is also the acting Zimbabwe Football Association president.
“We’ve got a role to play towards development of football and to reap desired results, we need to invest in junior development.
This means sourcing equipment to develop young talent as well as capacitating trainers so that they impart proper techniques from the present worldwide trends.
“It was good to see youngsters doing what they love most and the turnout from the public to support these youngsters is what motivates them more,” said Banda. — @ZililoR
Bunjiwe Mkwananzi
Colletta Dube