Story by Raynald Ngwarati
GRASSROOT football and netball in Zvimba East have received a major boost following the injection of US$17 000 by the local leadership to establish leagues in the two sports codes.
The dreams of aspiring footballers and netball players in the constituency have been reignited, thanks to the timely intervention by the area’s legislator, Cde Kudakwashe Mananzva, who made the donation towards nurturing emerging talent within the community.
The launch of the leagues, graced by renowned local football figure Justice Majabvi, has ignited hope among budding athletes. The initiative aims not only to develop sporting talent but also to curb drug and substance abuse among young people.
“We all started young, I didn’t start in Europe, but I came through a grassroots structure. This is how unsung heroes announce themselves on the international stage. Therefore, we support these and more initiatives that cultivate the culture to promote talent that is in marginalized areas,” he said.
“Some of our peers have been involved in drugs because the games were fewer. We know now that this will propel our careers and the sky is not the limit for us now thanks to our legislator who has shown up with a timely intervention for us,” noted netball player, Kudzai Gatsi.
The local leadership outlined its desire to continue helping unheralded talent to reach the apex.
“We started this program last year, but the drawback was that we used to select one team from each ward, but we noted that it was a disadvantage to other good players since the wards here are big. So the whole constituency we found 73 clubs for soccer and 43 for netball teams. So each team participating will be given its own ball and then kits at the end of the season,” explained Cde Mananzva.
ZANU PF Mashonaland West Youth chairman, Cde Tapiwa Masenda, echoed similar sentiments.
“Such initiatives will take our youth off drugs. That’s what we are pushing for as a party, and besides that, this will help in the development of our football talent to not only shine here but to grace the international stage. We will make sure to bring in scouts who will be monitoring play so that some can be scouted to play at the top level.”
73 football clubs and 34 netball teams will participate in the league, which will be played in a zonal format before the finals slate for the December 6.
The winners will walk away with close to two thousand dollars each, and the possibility of being scouted to structured leagues in the country.
