The ManicaPost
Ray Bande Senior Reporter
RETIRED soccer players from Mutare – some who played at the highest level in the country – have formed a team meant to rekindle the spirit of yesteryear football entertainment as well as help develop juniors.
In other cities such as Harare, former players have formed their own teams that periodically come together to play matches against their counterparts from other cities.
The idea behind the Mutare Legends Football Club was mooted during the recent first edition of the Johnson Mbaradza tournament where former players came together to play as curtain-raisers for the Under-17s final match.
One of the co-ordinators of the Mutare Football Legends Club, Victor Chinzamba, confirmed that they are now gathering every weekend to play against local social soccer teams as a way of strengthening their team before engaging former players from other regions.
“Yes, we are going ahead with the Mutare Legends Football Club initiative. It is a noble idea that unites us as people who once played football competitively.
“It doesn’t matter at which level one played, at this moment we are concerned with assembling a formidable team and we welcome every other former player who thinks has something to contribute to this initiative.
“We are playing at the Sports Oval on Sundays and we will be there again this Sunday,” said Chinzamba.
They beat Legal Tigers 4-2 on Sunday at the same venue.
South African-based Mutare football benefactor James “Hwetu” Meya, who has since donated a football kit towards the Mutare Legends initiative, vowed to continue giving a helping hand to Mutare Legends Football Club.
“This is a brilliant initiative that I will also support in every way that I can since I am also a former football player raised in the dusty streets of Sakubva. Having almost turned out for Dynamos before I got injured in my short career, I am in good books with most of those football players, so I will continue supporting it,” said Meya.
