Wenslus Murape
Curtworth Masango
Zimpapers Sports Hub
Scottland manager Tawanda Chidzidzi is set to host an Under 16 Soccer Tournament through his foundation tomorrow.
Eight teams are set to participate in the tournament at Mabvuku Stadium and Mabvuku High School.
Participating teams are Scottland Academy, All Stars Academy, Ali Sundowns Academy, Universal Trust Academy, Spotlight Academy, Mabvuku High School, BC Academy, and 2M Academy.
The foundation is looking forward to helping fight drug and substance abuse that has crippled many youths into idleness while at the same time promoting talent within communities.
Speaking to Zimpapers Sport, Chidzidzi said.
“We want young people to be supported sport-wise, enabling talent scouting and in the process helping them to use their talents so that they know through sport they can be occupied and be less tempted into illicit activities.
“So it’s important to always start with the grassroots and we have to uplift our communities. So as we hail from Mabvuku we found it worth starting there and empowering them.
“We already have a senior team that has been successful in a short time but that’s not enough if we don’t tap the talent for good from a young age.
“This time we are starting with the under 16s and we look forward to involving all other age groups in the future.
“As we have seen, we don’t want to see any youngsters delving into drugs or just lying idle on bridges taking alcoholics, but we want them to know that they can work and earn a good life through sport just like what others are doing now.
“Coming back to Mabvuku also is a way of expressing gratitude to the community that we come from as a way of giving back and uplifting those who also look to us. As a foundation, we are looking to stretch our reach outside Mabvuku in the upcoming times.
“The foundation have set appreciations through different medals, trophies, and prizes. We want these youngsters to know that football is work. They have to take it seriously at any given point.”
