Rhino league produces Premiership star

NDODANA Masuku, who co-ordinates the Matabeleland North based Rhino Cup Championship League, is happy that they have been able to produce a player good enough to be signed by Bikita Minerals in the Zimbabwe Premier Soccer League.

Moyo joined Bikita from the Dete league after an impressive run in the rural championship in the last two years.

“We are happy that Moyo moved to Bikita, which is in line with what we formed the league for. While there are human and wildlife issues to be fought using sports as a podium for awareness programmes, we also hope to create opportunities for the young and talented youths from the 20 men’s teams under our wing,” said Masuku.

The Rhino Cup League (RCCL) was formed as a way to create awareness about the treasured painted dogs. They are an endangered species.

Masuku, who is the sports and conservation officer for the Painted Dog, an organisation based at the Hwange National Park, said that these games have so far had an impact in the communities.

The painted dogs were once spread across 39 countries, they are now fewer than 7,000 left, living across 14 countries.

They are classified as threatened on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Red List.

Conservation efforts are crucial to safeguard wildlife, which is key to the economy and ecosystems.

The RCCL is registered under Zimbabwe Football Association (Zifa) as an Area Zone League.

It affords opportunities for wellness, education, entertainment and possible career opportunities, with Moyo a good example.

Masuku’s football initiative works with Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP), Zimparks, communities and other relevant authorities and conservation organisations.

Masuku said that due to lack of entertainment and high unemployment rates in Zimbabwe, RCCL introduced the soccer league in order to create awareness and at the same time creating a safe environment for the youth and other community members to meet.

“With the rise of crime, drug and substance abuse in our communities the soccer league was put into place to indulge the youth both men and women to participate so that they can keep busy and physically fit.

“We have 20 men’s teams, eight women’s and 15 juniors’ teams who compete in this league, we want to engage the girls and women to join in so they can also have 20 teams. Each team has 30 players, so approximately there are more than 1 290 less idle people in the community brought together by football,” said Masuku.

The men’s league has started and already 10 games have been played.