The ManicaPost
Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
DARTS players from different clubs across Manicaland Province are expecting to shake off the rust induced by the lengthy Covid-19 layoff when the inaugural Mutari Memorial Tournament gets underway in Mhakwe in Chimanimani District.
The game of darts in Manicaland is reeling under acute funding challenges which has resulted in very few competitions taking place.
Players based in Manicaland have had very little action apart from those who partook in the National Heroes Darts Tournament held over the Heroes holiday in Bulawayo.
Locally, they have had to content with playing socials to raise funds for Manicaland team and league games.
For the Mutari Memorial, teams that are expected to take part include Bulls Hits, TelOne, Mutare Teachers’ College, Public Works, KPG, Buffaloes, Tekuteku, Africa University, Mutare City Council, Golden Arrows and five from from Chimanimani including Mhakwe, the hosts.
Fanuel Nyahwa, the public relations officer for Manicaland Darts Association, said: “We are expecting others to join. It is a memorial tournament for our departed patron, Booker Mutari. He was very supportive of the game especially during tournaments.”
Among the players who are expected to present formidable challenge are Celesio Gunda, Caleb Sigauke, Othniel Makwara and the evergreen Melody Gezana.
Times have been hard for the game of darts since the relaxation of Covid-19 restrictions.
Said Nyahwa: “Competitive matches have been going on only in Mutare District because the other districts did not affiliate this year and this is a cause for concern. We assume they are facing financial challenges.”
For the 2022 Mutare District Darts Association calendar of events, the team on bye is KPG Darts Club.
The league started late as teams were struggling to meet National Darts Associated of Zimbabwe stringent Covid-19 guidelines before resumption.
They needed to inspect all possible venues to check on availability of temperature scanners, footbath, space, ventilation and away from noise and bars as beer is strictly not allowed in the playing arena.
Venues approved by SRC are Railton Sports Club, Sakubva Beit Hall, Florida Social Centre, 3 Brigade and Mutare Teachers’ College.
Of these, an AGM held agreed not to use Railton, Florida and 3 Brigade because the first and second venues were run by new owners who could not meet minimum standards, so for now they resorted to using MTC and Sakubva Beit Hall.
SRC then offered another venue on their premises.
