The ManicaPost
Fungayi Munyoro Sports Correspondent
THE sixth edition of the Willard Katsande Under-18 Football Tournament, which was expected to take place in June, has been postponed to next year.
However, one of the tournament’s organisers, Panganai Mbaradza, said they have replaced it with a junior football expo penciled for June 9.
He also indicated that Katsande had communicated that the event was postponed as he needed time to recover after the loss of his mother.
“The Willard Katsande Tournament will be held next year in June when he is on off season.
This is to allow him to recover from the sad loss of gogo Katsande. This year we will be having the Junior Football Expo whereby we gather all the junior players and talk to them. We will also visit some local schools just to interact with the junior players. “We will have senior players, ZIFA officials, referees and teachers to help us talk to the youngsters.
“Willard wants to teach and talk about sportsmanship, how to be a successful sportsman, how these youngsters can build their careers, how to balance education and sports, also respect and well-being of a good youth.
“We will have a question and answer segment whereby the youngsters will have chance to ask Willard and the other senior players who will be present,” he said.
Last year’s edition attracted 17 teams from all over the country. Mweyamutsvene High School was the winners and they walked away with $1000, a trophy and football kit. Chipinge Academy was the runners up and they pocketed $500 and a football kit.
Tanaka Shandirwa was voted the best player while Pascal Shumbaimwe was voted the best midfielder. Best goalkeeper of the tournament award was scooped by Simbarashe Buwerimwe.
These youngsters had the privilege to undergo trials with ABSA premiership clubs. “There will be lots of prizes to be won on the day including balls, football boots and many more. In an interview with The Post Sport from his South Africa base, Katsande confirmed that the tournament has been put on hold.
“Since I will not be able to hold a tournament this offseason, I have decided to hold a talk session with young aspiring footballers.
This is an opportunity for them to ask me anything relating to football and I will be in a position to answer them.
I will also share my life experiences from the time I started playing football until where I am right now,” he said.
