The ManicaPost
Fungayi Munyoro Sports Correspondent —
PREPARATIONS for the second edition of the Basketball Against Drugs Tournament slated for month-end in Dangamvura are at an advanced stage, the organisers have said.
The tournament which will be held on December 31 have attracted six teams. All invited teams have confirmed their participation and games will commence at 12pm.
According to one of the organisers and Manicaland Basketball League president, Tonde Shasha, Basketball Against Drugs Tournament was launched on December 6, 2015 with the aim of fighting drug abuse among ghetto youths.
“BAD was launched in 2015 at Dangamvura Basketball Courts. It is aimed at motivating our players to take up sports instead of abusing drugs.
We have discovered that the problem of drug abuse is affecting ghetto youths more than other youths. In most cases the youngsters won’t be having anything to do so they end up taking drugs. We are trying to do an awareness campaign against drugs.
It has become a tradition that at the end of the year, great sporting people who are active and non active in different disciplines come together and showcase their talents in Dangamvura.
This is our second edition and we have invited different people from all walks of life. We have invited Member of National Assembly for Dangamvura- Chikanga, Isau Mupfumi, Mutare mayor, Tatenda Nhamarare who is also our patron, some representatives from ZRP, Ministry of Health and Child Care, Ministry of Sports as well as the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education to grace the event,” he said.
Shasha said there would be a lot of entertainment and some of the musicians who would provide entertainment include Ntswai Ntswai Mbira Group, Dboi and Spaxx, Gee Kay and DJ Sachie.
The games will start at 12pm at Dangamvura Courts with Dangamvura Under-20 select taking on Mutare Select (men). Dangamvura Select will take on Mutare Select (senior ladies) and Dangamvura Select will play against Manicaland Select in the senior men’s category.
Shasha said they had decided to make it an annual event and hope to grow it yearly. He also promised a much bigger and better tournament from the previous one.
