The ManicaPost
Lovemore Kadzura Sports Correspondent
St Faith’s High School was a hive activity last weekend as several youngsters from different schools exhibited their skills and talents at the well organised Ideal Sports Invitational tournament which featured several sporting disciplines.
The tournament’s objective was for talent identification and giving exposure to talented but unheralded school kids. The tournament had a mixture of top academic and sporting and rural schools which battled out in several sports codes that included soccer, handball, basketball, volleyball and netball.
In soccer, hosts ST Faith’s clobbered Marondera High 4 nil, while in basketball ball Kriste Mambo were champions.
Ideal Sports managing director Ideal Svovanepasi said his company had poured in $20 000 for the 16 schools tournament saying he was motivated to see sport growing in Zimbabwe starting at grassroots level.
“What has driven me to sponsor this tournament at St Faith’s is the fact that I am a sports person and I am encouraging the growth of sport in Zimbabwe. Sport is a low hanging fruit which is well funded, will create a lot of opportunities and complement the efforts of the Second Republic.
“We have to promote young children so that they can have alternative roots if the root of education fails. We are nurturing raw talent that has never been seen before. This is not the first time we have done this, we have sponsored tournaments at Avonlea Primary, ST Paul’s Musami, Gokomere High among other schools.
“We are also the official kit suppliers of Black Rhinos, Mushowani Stars, Tel One, Manica Diamonds and Mutare City Rovers among other sporting teams,” said Svovanepasi. St Faith’s sports director and tournament organiser Reginald Tsimba said the competition in all disciplines was intense as schools were eager to win several lucrative prizes that were on offer.
“The level of competition here is so tense because the prizes for winners are so attractive. We are so grateful to Ideal Sports for the generous sponsorship. This will be an annual event,’’ said Tsimba.
