Sinokubonga Nkala
Lovemore Dube
FORMER Olympics Football Club junior player and later Matabeleland Amateur Athletics Board chairman Roy Phiri has challenged communities to actively revive community youth clubs.
Phiri, who was behind athletics’ great days for Bulawayo and Matabeleland North in the 1990s and early 2000s, believes a lot of talent is being lost because of the collapse of the youth club concept.
In an interview with the Zimpapers Sports Hub on Friday, Phiri said communities must not look up to the Government and local authorities when it comes to recreation and sport.
“In the past local authorities and mines tended to take the lead in providing viable sports clubs for youths and the community. With revenues from beer sales having dwindled as the profits used to drive social amenities construction and maintenance, the template has changed and sport finds itself far off in terms of priorities.
“It is about time communities took an active role and revive these clubs that are good in community integration and unity. Once they are revived members of the community can use the facilities for recreation, wellness and sports development,” said Phiri.
Under the banner Tshabalala/Sizinda Old School Association, a grouping of people who saw their active early days in the late 1960s into the 1970s and young adult life in the 1980s, Phiri who is the organizing secretary and spokesperson for the group, said they are seized with reviving Indlovu Youth Centre.
He said growing up in the 1970s and 1980s, the Indlovu Youth Club was bustling with activity with youths spending their time at the facility where there were dedicated youth leaders.
“Youth Clubs were the glue that held our lives together. We stayed away from crime because of that deliberate policy by the Bulawayo City Council of clubs.
“There was everything for everyone to do at the youth club. There were sports like basketball, volleyball, slogan tennis, karate, badminton, five-a-side football, soccer, athletics, singing, theatre and ballroom dancing. We were ever busy and hence never had time for social-ills as our youth leaders also taught us about life and its virtues.
“We aim to get Indlovu Youth Club up and kicking again. We are moving in the right direction and the responsive Tshabalala/Sizinda communities want to see the facility thriving and a lot of activity going on to take children off the streets and away from affliction to drugs and substance abuse.
“The Indlovu Youth Club resonates with greatness with a great number of yesteryear greats having come through it and nearby Sizinda Hall and Sports Ground which were owned by the National Railways of Zimbabwe. Our communities were bound together by sport and our generations even up to this day, we live in harmony as a family because of the great influence youth clubs had on us,” said Phiri.
Those in the steering committee of reviving Indlovu and youth sport in Tshabalala and Sizinda include Charles Masaku (chairman), Themba Phiri, (vice-chairman), Marko Muderere (secretary), Denis Tshuma (assistant secretary), Sifelani Mlalazi (treasurer) and Phiri.
“The men were all involved with sport. For instance Muderere was Highlanders’ goalkeeper in 1980,” said Phiri.
Phiri said they have over 150 children who are under-14 who have come along to join the initiative and that they are looking at other disciplines organising themselves and coming on board.
Phiri said they have Mjubheki Nyoni heading the United Kingdom Chapter with Njabulo Khumalo in charge of the South African one.
The notable sportspersons to come through the two neighbouring suburbs were bound by close cultural ties and being employees of children of parents who worked for NRZ, Cold Storage Commission (Company) and other big companies in Donnington and Belmont industries.
Many made a name in boxing, basketball, soccer and volleyball.
In basketball Witness Martin, Mamani Phiri, Vusa Ndebele and Fanuel Phiri are some of the big names with volleyball having had stars like Dominic Tembo, Patrick Ncube, Clive Sibanda, Garikayi Sibanda, Hudson Kaluwa, Chekuda Makuyana, Lovemore Siwela and Makheyi Ncube who topped the charts.
The two suburbs also gave Zimbabwe Jimmy Phiri, Ephraim Mwale, Charles Chunda, Chris Chunda, Disco Masina, Fortune Mabhilingwane, Charles Ndebele, Francis Manda, Joe Kode, Josphat Humbasha, Jonita Phiri, Luiz Ferreira, Maneru Zulu, Master Masiku, Stephen Sibanda, Gideon and Mtewa Masiku, Survival Tshabalala, Mandla Mpofu, Felix Chindungwe, Gilbert Banda, Melusi Ndebele, Doctor Melusi Sibanda, Norman Moyo, Friday Phiri, Patrick Ncube, Shamiso Nyoni, Peter and Stanley Kaviza, Kenneth Mathe, Tafireyi Tembo, Tutani Moyo, Thomas Chiminya, Yona Malunga, Sherperd Mandiwanzira and Mkhokheli Dube.
“As you can see add boxing Obson Nsingo (Black Tiger), Morris Chiwawule and Jay Nardo, there is a strong sporting DNA in the suburb, we want to revive sport again and create new national champions,” said Phiri.
While it is noble to revive youth centres, the reality on the ground is that there is strong competition from television, play stations and other sports that have grown significantly over the past decade like cricket and rugby.
Online Reporter
