Sports Reporter
MARONDERA- The Murehwa Prison ground was a hive of activity last weekend as thousands of youths took their time to watch an exciting football match played between Jena FC and Spartan FC.
The match which ended in a one-all draw, was part of the qualifier games for the 5th edition of the Sky Sports Tournament, whose finals will be staged before the end of the year.
With emphasis on fighting drug and substance abuse, the tournament which is bankrolled through Tatenda Choruwa’s Sky Classics Petrolleum, also gives the young people an opportunity to chart their own course.
In an interview on the sidelines of the match, Choruwa said the initiative is meant to plough back to the community.
“Over the years, this tournament has been gaining traction and as we move forward, we want the games to have a national touch, meaning we will introduce it to other provinces. The support that we have been getting from various stakeholders is the reason why we have put in place plans to expand this movement to provincial and even national levels.
“We have also undertaken various projects that include mobilising resources for a classroom block at Chemapango Primary School, school fees for hundreds of learners in Chemapango, food aid during COVID 19 era, BP machines for clinics in Murehwa and supporting the elderly and vulnerable members of the community. In the sports initiative, teams from several wards compete in football and netball matches and all the participating gets something for their effort. We want to uplift the living standards of young people through sports,” Choruwa said.
Tournament manager, Bernad Murambidzi said over the past weeks when the games were being played at various centres, the young people were also reminded about the effects of drug and substance abuse.
He said: “In the last few weeks that our young people were competing in these games, I am proud to say that we never recorded even a single incident linked to drug and substance abuse. As guided by the visionary leadership of President Emmerson Mnangagwa, we commit ourselves to ensuring that the youths are at the forefront of national development.”
He said the engagement they had with the youths in the programme showed the critical importance that sport plays in developing young people.
The match at Murehwa Prison Ground attracted more than 5 000 people who were involved either as participants or supporters.
