Youth tourney for Bob 88 Super Cup

provinces in Harare today to discuss the modalities of how they can assemble teams to represent them in the tourney.
“There has been tremendous interest in the tournament and we have received an appeal from the country’s youth leadership to organise an inter-provincial tournament as part of the Bob 88 Super Cup,” said Kasukuwere.
“We have organised a meeting with the provincial leaders in Harare tomorrow (today) at which we will discuss all issues relevant to the organisation of such an inter-provincial tournament.
“We are certain that by the end of the meeting we will come up with a proper structure and it will be all systems go and the youths can also showcase their football skills, in this tournament that celebrates the special birthday of our President.
“The youths are the future of the country and when an appeal came through for us to also consider them in our programme, we felt that it was a noble initiative to have an inter-provincial tournament that will be part of the Bob 88 Super Cup.”
Kasukuwere said the main programme would remain the battle of the four Premiership teams – Dynamos, Motor Action, FC Platinum and Hwange.
“Obviously, whatever we are adding to the programme is just an attempt to spice up the tournament but the main programme remains the battle of the four Premier League teams, which starts on Saturday in Mutare,” said Kasukuwere.
“We want the two finalists, in the inter-provincial battles, to be part of the curtain-raisers to the big match, on Cup Final Day, which will feature two of the four Premier League teams in the tournament.
“We are also looking at bringing in women who are living with the Hiv virus, and have been playing competitive football in a league organised by Chris Sambo, to also play as part of the curtain-raisers on Cup Final Day.
“When you are using football to celebrate the life of a statesman like our President, you cannot discriminate on the basis of gender or age and that is why we feel bringing in the country’s youths and women living with Hiv into the tournament is a good idea.
“You can see that the tournament gets a national outlook and that has always been our intention as organisers to try and involve as many people as possible because this is a huge event.”
FC Platinum will get the ball rolling on Saturday when they take on Motor Action in the first semi-final before action swings to the City of Kings where Dynamos will date Hwange at Barbourfields in the other semi-final the following day.
“The goodwill we have been receiving is incredible and it’s coming from individuals, ordinary people who are asking what they can do to just help, right up to companies who want to donate this and that to make everything a success story,” said Kasukuwere.
“When we launched the tournament last year, there were doubts in certain circles that this would be a success but we did our best and everything came right at the end and, actually, we set the tone for what was clearly one of our best football seasons in a very long time.
“Now, in our second year, we have doubled the number of Premier League teams taking part, we have incorporated the youths through their provinces and brought in the women.”
Kasukuwere revealed on Tuesday that the organisers will meet the clubs’ costs of taking part in the tournament, which include transport and accommodation.