adminSports Reporter
ZIFA have hailed the enthusiasm shown by school children at their first Grassroots Festival football tournament that attracted over 600 players at the Zimbabwe Grounds in Harare. The participants were drawn from schools and academies from the Highglen District in Harare at the weekend.
The schools that took part included Southerton, Rusvingo, Ruvheneko, Mhizha, Chipembere, Shiriyedenga and Mbizi.
Highfield Academy and Soccer For Success Academy also had representative teams. Zifa board member for development, John Phiri, and Highglen Junior Football League chairman Onias Kadewere were the high ranking officials at the event.
Officials from Nash also graced the football jamboree.
Zifa communications manager, Xolisani Gwesela, said the festival was the first of a series of grassroots football tournaments to be held across the country aimed at tapping and promoting talent among primary school children under the age 12.
“This is a concept that Zifa is giving so much importance to because to have a competitive national team it has to start from the grassroots.
“So the Zimbabwe Football Association would like to inform the football fraternity and the nation that there will be on-going grassroots football festivals for all the 10 provinces in the country.
“The dates and venues for other provinces will be advised in due course. The systematic promotion of grassroots football is one of Zifa’s priorities.
“The objective of grassroots football is to bring football to as many people as possible thus addressing one of Fifa’s missions ‘to develop the game.’
“Grassroots Football festivals are imperative since they encourage children to play football, whatever their level. Playing improves the children’s techniques and the intelligence of their game and this boosts their enthusiasm.
“We were really impressed by the attendance and the enthusiasm shown by the children at the weekend and we hope it will be like that in all the other provinces,” said Gwesela.
Online Reporter