shloboe boe
Fungai Muderere, fungai.muderere@bmetro.co.zw
SIGNIFICANT progress has been made in arranging an upcoming sports extravaganza slated for Indlovu Youth Club in Tshabalala on December 21.
The tournament will feature four Under-10 boys’ football teams, two girls’ football teams, and an equal number of netball teams.
According to Roy Phiri, the tournament’s marketing and communications officer, the main objective is to revive sporting activities at the Indlovu Youth Club and pave way for the development of the Tshabalala-Sizinda Juniors League.
“We want to prevent young players from these two areas going to play football and other sports in other suburbs. The Tshabalala-Sizinda Juniors League will help us form a team that will compete in the Zifa Junior League in the near future,” said Phiri, a yesteryear football great.
Winners of the boys’ section will get a trophy plus gold medals. The first runners-up and third-best teams will get silver and bronze medals respectively.
The girls’ soccer contest will be a straight final with the winners getting a trophy and gold medals. The second-best side will get silver medals.
To spice up the event, Phiri said there will also be a four-team adult draft contest.
“This is an initiative of Tshabalala Sizinda Old School members. It is a group of like-minded individuals coming together to give back to their community and address the social issues affecting the youth. We are a group of friends who grew up together in Tshabalala and Sizinda suburbs, sharing a passion for soccer and community development,” said Phiri.
“With an average age of 60, we have come together to give back to our community and address the social ills facing our youth. In our childhood, local youth clubs played a vital role in our development.
However, these clubs have become defunct, leaving a void in our community. We are committed to reviving the Indlovu Youth Club in Tshabalala and providing a safe space for our youth to grow and thrive.
“Our focus is on junior soccer, targeting children between six and 12 years who are currently not catered for by existing programmes. We aim to provide a platform for these young minds to develop their skills, build their confidence, and become positive contributors to our community. We would appreciate you joining us in our mission to revitalise community spirit and empower the next generation of leaders,” he said.
Ex-Premier Soccer League (PSL) players such as Mkhokheli Dube, Gilbert Banda, Felix Chindungwe, Mthulisi Maphosa, Thomas Chimenya, Edward Tembo, Elison Phiri and his late young brother Trevor, among others, grew up playing for the now-defunct junior teams that include New Cream (Sizinda) and Tshabalala Pirates.
Bruce Kwangwa, who is now with CAPS United, also cut his football teeth in Tshabalala. -@FungaiMuderere
mbulelo smpofu
