Online Reporter
Lovemore Dube, [email protected]
FELIX ‘Deco’ Sibanda of Goldendale Mine in Bubi believes sport still has the ability to keep mining communities together.
He said this on the sidelines of the Deco’s Tshisanyama Five-A-Side Soccer Tournament at Durban Mine on Monday which he sponsored. It was an event that celebrated heroes of Zimbabwe’s liberation struggle and members of the community came in their numbers to witness near township dribbling and skills with former Bulawayo City junior, Nhlanhla ‘Scara’ Dube the best player on view.
Two Bulawayo teams, one from Nkayi and two local ones took part in the competition described by football legends Gift Lunga (Jnr) and Johannes Ngodzo as very entertaining.
Sport from the early days of mining in the country played a crucial role in providing wellness opportunities, recreation and employment.
“Sport has always played a crucial role in keeping people together. It is good for social cohesion and interaction, it breaks protocol, there is no boss or worker when people are on the field. It creates harmony which is needed when people want to achieve and get better productivity,” said Sibanda who has vowed to continue supporting sport in the area.
He said mine workers need recreation and sport breaks the monotony of mine life.
“In mines life can be so monotonous and it is therefore important to have sport coming in to break that. Let workers look forward to knocking off and engaging in fruitful activity like sport,” said Sibanda.
He said it would be good to revive professional mines sport to embrace all levels of miners.
“In the past there were Chamber of Mines Games for the big mines, perhaps we now need mine games that involve everyone in mining so that communities benefit from our corporate social responsibility programmes that should add value to the community,” said Sibanda.
He said sport also provides employment.
“Some mines can employ an individual because he is a talented footballer or athlete. Many great sportspersons were given employment and played at national level,” said Sibanda.
He said children from mining communities benefit from sport activity as it takes them away from social ills. They partake in positive activities that could give them a livelihood later in professional sport at home and beyond.
“I organise and sponsor soccer tournaments so that the youths can shun bad habits and explore their talents in sport which has the potential to take them far. I bring, legendary figures like Gift Lunga (Jnr), Aggrippa Sibanda and Johannes Ngodzo to inspire local youths. These are players who have played national and international level football. By encouraging soccer activity, we are in a way part of the campaign against drug and substance abuse, HIV and Aids, early marriages and teenage sex,” said Sibanda.
Mzilikazi won the tournament after beating Vuluvale of Magwegwe North 1-0 in the final.
