Agricultural farming equipment manufacturers Windmill have launched a 26-team Under- 20 football tournament.
Company marketing executive manger Herbert Chakanyuka said it was not the first time Windmill have sponsored junior football as they once held another football tournament in 1994.
However, they were forced to terminate the sponsorship deal due to the economic meltdown The tournament saw the emergence of players like Alois Bunjira who also graced the launch on Monday evening.
The football tournament sponsored to the tune of $30 000 will be played over two days at Prince Edward High School with most of the teams that were selected according to competitiveness coming from Harare.
There will be 22 boys’ teams, four girls’ teams and four exhibition teams playing over two days.
Speaking to journalists at a media briefing, the tournament co-coordinator Sebastian Garikai said they had decided to partner Windmill in the cause as it gives national team coaches a chance to widen their nets when selecting national team players.
The tournament will have individual awards like man-of-the-match for each match, golden boot and goalkeeper of the tournament.
Teams will be put in groups of four with the top two qualifying to quarter-finals. The matches will be played in two halves of 25 minutes each.
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Speaking at the same function, Chakanyuka said Windmill were looking forward to bigger and better tournaments in the next five years.
“We want to make the event an annual one that will be the biggest junior tournament in the southern region. We have gone as far as providing kits to all schools that are going to take part in the tournament this year. The last time we had a similar tournament we had eight teams, but now we have increased the number to 26.
“We have decided to sponsor juniors because we believe they are the future farmers,” Chakanyuka said. Participating teams:
Dewure High, Pamushana High, Gifford High, Churchill High, Highfield High, Cranborne Boys, Mt Pleasant High, Glen Norah 2, Glen View 1 High, Dzivaresekwa 2 High, Lord Malvern, Vimbai Secondary, Sodbury Farm School, Prince Edward, Seke 1, Mufakose 1 High, Cornway College, Harare High, Glen View 2 High, Kuwadzana 1 High, Allan Wilson and Mufakose 2 High
Exhibition teams: Windmill staff v Prince Edward staff
Girls’ teams:
Roosevelt Mufakose 1, Mukai and Dzivaresekwa Select
