Chronicle Editor
Leonard Ncube in Victoria Falls
VICTORIA Falls was treated to a rare two-day netball extravaganza sponsored by mayor Somveli Dlamini at the weekend.
The tournament was part of Mother’s Day celebrations.
Local teams VIP Mosi, Mosi Queens, Kasambabezi, Shooting Stars, Discovery, Bangelo, Expire and Gwanzura took part in the tournament.
The tournament was held at Entakeni grounds.
The newly-elected councillor for Ward 6 Bekithemba Mlotshwa bankrolls VIP Mosi and businessman Christopher Ndiweni donated money to the youthful Mosi Queens who finished second.
Ndiweni said he donated to VIP Queens because the team is made up of schoolgirls who could promote the growth of netball in Victoria Falls.
VIP Mosi won the tournament.
Mosi Queens coach Gugulethu Ndlovu said she was excited by her youthful team’s performance and thanked Ndiweni for pledging to finance some of her players’ academic studies.
Mayor Dlamini said the idea was to keep the girl child busy and reduce chances of them being exposed to drugs and other societal ills.
“I decided to sponsor the netball tourney as sport can help keep girls away from drug abuse, engaging in sex which leads to teenage pregnancies and early marriages.
Talent can also be identified from such tournaments and we can have children playing for bigger clubs or even the national team ” he said.
Dlamini said there is a future in sport and this can also promote sport tourism.
“We also want to promote sport tourism because we can’t continue relying on traditional tourism such as game watching and visiting the waterfalls,” Dlamini said.
– @ncubeleon.
Online Reporter