Brandon Moyo,[email protected]
THE stage is set for yet another entertaining Heroes Day event as the City of Kings and Queens will play host to the 2023 Unforgettable Social Soccer Challenge at Hartsfield Rugby Grounds.
The tournament is on the Heroes Day on Monday and will present the perfect holiday for football enthusiasts in the city.
Since its inauguration in 2006, the tournament has been held at different venues across the city.
This year’s edition of the tournament is set to focus on promoting social interaction and to that end, the organisers said their awards will reflect their desire to celebrate participation as opposed to winning.
Some of the teams that will be taking part in the tournament which promises to be competitive include Eastern Strikers FC, Revolution FC, Steward Bank FC, Togetherness FC, BAC FC, Touchline FC, Continental FC, Millennium FC and Eighth Avenue FC.
Organisers have promised not only an exhilarating football event but an entertainment filled day as there will be a host of local DJs to give fans a good outing.
“This year’s event will coincide with the Heroes Holiday and we are inviting all football lovers to come to Hartsfield Rugby Stadium and enjoy football as well as music. We have a number of DJs lined up for the big event,” said the organising chairperson, Chris Hungwe.
In line with this year’s theme of promoting social soccer among the older members of the community, the tournament partners Unforgettable have introduced a senior player of the tournament award, which will be a first of its kind.
Some of the players likely to win the latest award are former Zimbabwe Cheetahs head coach Gilbert Nyamutsamba who plays for Eastern Strikers FC, Freeman Rugara also of Eastern Strikers, Audacious Mareverwa of Steward Bank FC, Taurai Shoko of Touchline FC and Sicelo Fumapano of Revolution FC.
There will also be an opportunity for football lovers to watch 62-year-old Mapanga of Eight Avenue alongside his playmaker, who is known as Freza.
Hungwe thanked their partners, Unforgettable who have always stood by them throughout the years, adding that the event has been growing and getting better with each passing year. He also appealed to football enthusiasts to come in their numbers.
The first team to win the Unforgettable Social Soccer Challenge was Real Njube FC and the following year it was won by Eastern Strikers FC. Other winners over the years have been clubs like Schweppes FC, Delta Beverages FC and Veve Stars. – @brandon_malvin



