adminRay Bande Senior Sports Reporter
KAIZER Chiefs gaffer, Steve Khompela, is expected to be among a number of high profile soccer personalities that will grace this year’s Willard Katsande Under-18 soccer tournament to be held in Mutare.
Warriors skipper, Willard Katsande is the main sponsor of the tournament whose theme is: “Football Helps Us Change”.
The 2016 edition of the Willard Katsande Under-18 soccer tournament had been provisionally scheduled for June 4 and 5, but has since been moved to June 11 and 12.
For the first time since its inception, teams from all the country’s provinces will be partaking in the tournament with five provinces that include hosts Manicaland, Harare, Mashonaland West, Masvingo and Matebeleland South already confirmed their participation.
The remaining five provinces are expected to do the same in the near future.
However, the list of dignitaries that have pledged to grace this year’s edition of the competition which include the Amakhosi coach, Khompela, Zifa president, Phillip Chiyangwa, Zifa benefactor, Wicknel Chivhayo, Prophetic Healing and Deliverance Ministries leader, Walter Magaya was made known during the local organising committee’s fifth meeting held at Sakubva Stadium on Sunday morning.
Panganai Mbaradza, the information and publicity officer for the tournament confirmed the developments.
“We have a number of guests that we hope will be among VIPs who will grace the tournament.
“Zifa president, Phillip Chiyangwa, PHD Ministries leader, Walter Magaya and national team coach, Callisto Pasuwa.
“We are also confident that for the first time Kaizer Chiefs coach, Steve Khompela will grace the occasion. This will undoubtedly add flare to the goings on during the tournament,” he said.
Mbaradza also gave an insight into the logistical arrangements of the tournament.
“We will use eight grounds as suggested. The purpose for eight grounds is to make group stages easier to finish early and to easily monitor proceedings.
“All games must start at the same time for 30 minutes, 15 minutes aside on each game.
“All knock-out matches must finish at 12pm and then lunch will be served at their respective grounds.
“Two grounds per group and the grounds must be close to each other for the teams to exchange in time.
“Transport will be set aside to transport teams to the main ground for quarter and semi-finals.
“Provinces are to bring selected U-18 teams. This will make the tournament competitive.
“The decision to have select provincial teams was informed by the delay of inviting of teams.
“The committee and the sponsor will meet the teams on the night before the tournament.
“All 16 teams must get T-shirts. Two teams that reach final stage will get free kits.
“Dates for the tournament have been shifted due to the Zimbabwe Warriors match against Malawi, so our main sponsor will be committed.
“That is why we have shifted from June 4 and 5 to June 11 and 12.
“All teams are expected to arrive in Mutare on Thursday, June 9 so that vetting will be done on Friday, June 10,” he said.
During Sunday’s meeting, it was also revealed that the last eight teams will receive uniforms from the main sponsor.
“It was suggested that the last eight teams must receive uniforms from the main sponsor since we will be having respected guests. We want them to be presentable.
“The prize money for winners must be raised from $1 000 to a better figure since it is now a national tournament and also to be reasonable for the travelling costs for visiting teams,” said Mbaradza.
There will be a fundraising gig on June 11 dubbed the Willard Katsande Welcome party and the gate takings will be channelled towards the tournament.
Eight grounds that have been selected for preliminary rounds before proceeding to Sakubva Stadium for quarter finals are Sports Oval Ground, Rural Camp Ground, Sakubva Primary School Ground, Zamba Primary School Ground, Nyausunzi Grounds, Chisamba Ground, Elise Gledhill Ground, Sakubva High School Ground
The local organising committee also suggested that four commuter buses must be ready on all grounds to ferry teams to their fields in order to play their matches in time
Online Reporter