ABSA Premiership’s Kaizer Chiefs stars Kingstone Nkhatha and Ovidy Karuru are set to grace the Under-18 Willard Katsande football tournament that starts in Mutare today.
KENNETH NYANGANI SPORTS CORRESPONDENT
Other high profile figures who are set to attend the two-day tournament are former Dynamos gaffer Kalisto Pasuwa and the Glamour Boys striker Washington Pakamisa.
Last year, former Warriors star Edzai Kasinauyo attended the prestigious tournament that is growing in stature with each passing year.
Some 20 teams are already confirmed to participate and last year’s winners Chipinge Academy will be eager to defend their title.
One of the organisers, Panganai Mbaradza said they are expecting fireworks at this year’s tournament.
“We are expecting fireworks and we are happy that 20 teams have already confirmed.
“This year we are expecting Kingstone Nkhatha and Ovidy Karuru are expected to attend the tournament together with Kalisto Pasuwa and Washington Pakamisa,” he said.
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“Sixteen teams from Mutare have already confirmed, while Chipinge have three teams while Penhalonga has one team. The final will be played at Sakubva Stadium on Sunday (tomorrow).”
Last year’s winners Chipinge Academy got $500, two sets of kits, T-shirts and a floating trophy.
This year, the winning prize has been increased to $800 and a trophy, playing kits for the finalists while the last eight teams would get branded T-shirts. Runners-up will go home $400 richer.
La Sakubva, a team owned and coached by Timothy Masachi won the first edition of the tournament in 2012. Masachi is the assistant coach of Premiership side Buffaloes.
He was eventually named the coach of the tournament while national Under-23 and Buffaloes defender and Liberty Chakoroma was named defender of the tournament.
Exciting Buffaloes midfielder Phillip Thembani was named the player of the tournament.
