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Zimpapers Sports Hub
FORMER Warriors midfielder Ronald “Rooney” Chitiyo says tournaments like the Mwalimu Kumbula event help not only in developing emerging talent but also address general societal challenges amongst the youth.
The eighth edition of the annual jamboree concluded at Epworth High School in Epworth on Saturday with almost 3 000 people turning up to witness the finale.
The fiesta has produced an array of fine footballers including Chitiyo who now plies his trade with Kalisto Pasuwa’s Nyasa Big Bullets in the Malawi Super League.
Munyaradzi Mawadza, Emmaculate Mawuna, Egness Tumbare, Danai Bhobho, and Talent Mukwanda were all born out of this tournament, which is held in honour of Mwalimu by one of Epworth’s most illustrious sons Musekiwa Kumbula. And Chitiyo reckons the contest is vital in many ways than one.
“Look, this tournament is very noble in many ways. It is the one that shaped my career as an individual.
“I owe whatever success that had in my career to this tournament and I am indeed a proud product of the meet,” said Chitiyo.
“Besides developing youngsters and aiding them to become professionals, I think this tournament is also helping the youths in so many ways.
“If you look at the number of crimes being committed by the youths in Epworth over the past few years, I am sure the rate is dropping so are societal ills such as drug abuse.
“In a community like Epworth, you need tournaments like this to address challenges that face the youths daily.
“Thumps up to the likes of Musekiwa Kumbula and many others like him out there.”
The tournament has exclusively been football all along but the organisers this year added netball. Three age groups —Under-12, 15, and 17 participated in this fiesta in both football and netball.
Harmony FC beat Saints 2-1 to clinch the Under-12 crown for boys football while Shingu were 1-0 to the good against Liverpool in the Under-14 category with Saints winning the Under-17 game 2-0 over Epworth Athletic.
The Under-17 netball final saw Shungu cruising to a 59-17 win over Scorpions.
Tournament coordinator Shepherd Mudzamiri hailed how this year’s event was organised.
“We are delighted with the support that everyone showed. We had a bumper crowd, about 3 000 spectators from Epworth witnessing this event. It was magnificent,” said Mudzamiri.
Online Reporter