admin
Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE international footballer Edward “Duduza” Sadomba is expected to lead a cast of professionals who will headline the annual end-of-year Alex Sports Club four-team invitational football tournament in the capital today.The tournament will feature four social sides, who will be spiced by the presence of professionals hosts Mafero Mafero, Mupanda, Tendra and Buccaneers.
Organisers believe it’s the biggest tournament that they have staged at Alex Sports Club and, if the storms don’t pound Harare, they expect a huge crowd.
“It’s off-season and there is very little that is taking place right now and when you have a tournament like this one, it generates a lot of interest because of the presence of star players who will be on show,” said Alex Sports Club chairman, Cosmas Nyachiya.
“Duduza always plays here when he is off-season and this feels like home for him and the people here like him a lot. He is a role model, someone who rose from Mbare to become a professional footballer who has managed to change not only his life but that of his family and we appreciate what he has done in his career.
“To us, this is a celebration of the careers of our professionals, where they come, without any pressure and can then turn on the show for the fans.
“Of course, there is a rivalry and some big prizes on offer, which all helps to make up for a good afternoon of football.”
Justice “Chief” Majabvi, Thomas “Rambo” Sweswe and Tapuwa Kapini, who was one of the guests at the wedding of Zimbabwe international defender, Quad Amini in Harare on Thursday, are some of the foreign-based players expected to grace the occasion.
“There has been a huge interest in the tournament, especially from the foreign-based players, since it was publicised in the newspapers that we would be holding this tournament and I will not be surprised if we get more than a dozen foreign-based players taking part,” said Nyachiya.
Former Zimbabwe defender, Dumisani Mpofu, and midfielder, Ashley Rambanapasi, are some of the home-based players expected to take part in the tourney.
“We have invited Rufus Ziduche as our guest of honour and he is the one who will present the trophy to the eventual winners,” said Nyachiya.
Ziduche said it was a great honour for him.
“I’m thrilled by the invitation from the boys and I hope that we are going to have a good day of football that will not only delight the players but, crucially, all the scores of fans that the organisers are expecting to come to Alex tomorrow (Saturday),” said Ziduche.
“It always feels great to see the Zimbabwean family coming together to celebrate, be it in football, music, religion and I think the guys who have organised this tournament have done a good job and deserve a pat on the back.
“Every year, our professional footballers usually come home for Christmas and it’s always good to see them converging at one place, sharing their experiences and I’m happy to be associated with this event and, hopefully, it will be a success.”
Online Reporter