HARARE City Taekwondo Club is targeting children as young as nine years for recruitment ahead of the Harare Mayor's Taekwondo Challenge Cup, set for August 15–16 at the Harare City Sports Centre.
City club chairperson Martin Chimombe used the build-up to urge youths to take up the sport instead of falling into drug and substance abuse.
Speaking at a media briefing this week, Chimombe said the discipline instilled by martial arts training could shield young people from vices sweeping through Harare's communities.
"Taekwondo teaches discipline, respect, focus and self-defence," Chimombe said.
"I am urging our youths to actively participate in Taekwondo. Out there are dangerous social vices such as drug and substance abuse. If you shun sport, you shun it at your own peril."
The tournament, organised under mayor Jacob Mafume's office, is set to bring together clubs from Harare, surrounding areas and the region to compete across junior, cadet and senior categories over the two days.
Chimombe said the event doubled as a recruitment and talent-identification drive.
"This tournament is not just about medals. It's about pulling kids off the streets and putting them on the mat," he said.
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"We want parents to bring their children. Let them come and see what discipline looks like."
Harare City is expected to field one of its largest teams at the tournament, coming off a medal-winning tour of Eswatini. Chimombe said the squad is training hard and targeting podium finishes.
Chimombe called on parents, schools and community leaders to support youth participation in structured sport.
"Sport cannot do it alone. Parents must bring the kids. Schools must allow them time to train," he said.
"If we work together, in five years we will have a national team that is 70% from programmes like this."
He said the club's long-term goal was to build a sustainable pipeline of young talent starting from primary-school age.
"When a child is in the dojang for two hours, that is two hours they are not on the streets," Chimombe said.
"That is discipline. The mat teaches them that hard work has rewards."
