The ManicaPost
Fungayi Munyoro Sports Correspondent —
AFM Manicaland North Province recently launched the Overseer’s tournament at Chancellor Primary School with the aim of evangelising using sport. In an interview, AFM Manicaland North provincial leader, Sydney Matekwe, said the main aim of the tournament was to reach out to lost souls and fellowship.
“We decided to take this direction as a church so that we reach out to many people. Sport encourages fellowship. Our churches are growing each and every day to such an extent that we do not know everyone. We can interact through sport. It also promotes unity and physical fitness among our members.
“We hope to introduce other sporting disciplines that will cater for our elderly members. We hope to introduce darts and pool. We will make it an annual event as well as a national event,” he said.
Athletes battled it out in three sporting disciplines, soccer, volleyball and netball. Manicaland North Province is made up of 37 assemblies which were then divided into five zones, Rusape, Mutare, Nyanga, Honde and Mutasa. In soccer, all the five zones played qualifying matches on October 15 and seven teams qualified for the finals.
The teams include Elshaddai, Nyamajura, Azusa, Rusape East, Mutare East, Mutare City and Honde Valley. The teams were placed into two groups and Group A was made up of Mutare East, Elshaddai, Nyamajura and Rusape, while Group B had Honde Valley, Azusa and Mutare City.
Top two teams from each group proceeded to the semi-finals. Azusa played against Elshaddai and lost 0-2, while Nyamajura thrashed Rusape 2-0 to book a place in the finals with Elshaddai. Elshaddai dismissed Nyamajura by a goal to nil in the finals and were crowned winners.
In netball, three teams took part and played two matches each. Mutare City Centre emerged winners after topping the log. In volleyball, two teams participated. Toronto won 2-1 against Mutare East. Each winning team received a trophy.
In an interview after the tournament, organising chairman, Aaron Kanyoza, said their event was a success. He said: “I can say our event was a success since it is our first time to host it. There is room for improvement. We are also appealing to the outside world to chip in and sponsor our tournaments.
“Many people think church is all about preaching and praying, but we do have various activities as well. It is a way of evangelising. We will make it an annual event. We expect to see more teams in volleyball and netball. We also hope to add more disciplines next year,” he said.
