The ManicaPost
Ray Bande Senior Reporter
JUNIOR football structures and operations, which are normally forgotten in an environment where football for seniors is struggling to stay afloat, will come to the fore when organisers of the Mai Hondo and Willard Katsande tournaments gather at Courtauld Theatre in Mutare today to map the way forward for this year’s edition of the two events.
Organisers of both events will convene at one meeting at 5pm.
Apart from the mainstream primary and secondary school football tournaments, the Mai Hondo and Willard Katsande junior soccer tournaments are the only competitions at that stage of the game in Mutare leaving a lasting impression in recent years.
Last year Ajax Academy of Harare won the Mai Hondo tournament after beating highly fancied La Sakubva 2-1 in an entertaining final encounter of the round robin contest.
The years’ edition of the same tournament, meant for both boys and girls, has been slated for December 7 and 8.
Tournament spokesperson Blessing “Jah B” Mutsaka said everything is moving according to plan.
“We are expecting to have 14 local teams, four teams from Harare, two teams from Chipinge, one team from Rusape, one team from Mutasa, one team from Marange for the boys section of this year’s edition
Four local women’s teams will battle it out in the females’ section.
We have prizes that include full kits for top eight teams for boys and top two teams for ladies as well as balls for all participating teams.
We also have individual prizes for both men and women such as top goal scorer, player of the tourney, goalkeeper, midfielder and defender of the tournament,” he said.
Mutsaka, who pursued his studies at the expense of a goalkeeping career that was full of potential tracing its roots to the dusty streets of Mazhambe section of Sakubva, also confirmed the venues to be used to the annual junior football contest.
“We will using venues such as Sakubva stadium for the final encounter but that depends on state of stadium and the renovations that we understand are still ongoing.
“Then we also have Zamba and Sakubva Primary schools, Sports Oval, Chisamba Primary and possibly Nyamauru for ladies,” he said.
Defending champions Ajax academy of Mbare in Harare, Dzivarasekwa Academy, Mufakose Academy, Vengere Stars of Rusape, Chipinge Academy, Magwapara FC of Chipinge, St Noah Marange, DC Mutasa and Kuwadzana Stars are some of the teams that are highly likely to sweat it out during this years’ edition of the combination.
The Willard Katsande tournament, which was shelved last year as the financier had other commitments during the time it was supposed to have been held, will go ahead this year, according to the former Warrior’s captain.
The Kaiser Chief midfielder confirmed the development when he was in the country during the recent international break.
