Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
A TOTAL of 24 teams will compete in this year’s edition of the annual Mai Hondo Tournament finals – a significant increase from the six boys’ teams that partook in the exciting competition at its inaugural launch in 2015.
This year, six netball teams, 12 girls’ and 16 boys’ football teams will cross swords of supremacy in a potentially explosive contest.
Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Misheck Mugadza will be the guest of honour at the finals.
In living up to their long cherished dream of moulding a complete and responsible player, Mai Hondo and Associates will have well-known educationist and First Class Academy proprietor, Stephen Mutsongodza providing career guidance to participants.
Reigning boys football champions, City Vellos, Sheckon, La Sakubva, FC Reactors, Future Promises, Bright Stars, MAJESA Academy, Harare trio of AJ Academy, Blue Stars Academy and First Step Academy, CM Academy of Chipinge, Vengere Stars of Rusape Masvingo duo of Masvingo Junior Academy and Masvingo Juniors, Pams Academy of Zvishavane as well as Binga Academy all the way from Binga in Matabeleland North, make up the list of participating teams in the boys’ football competition.
The competition starts with group matches at different venues in Dangamvura and Sakubva today (Friday) which will culminate into the finals tomorrow (Saturday) at the refurbished Chisamba Ground in Sakubva.
Mai Hondo Chief Associate, Blessing ‘Jah B’ Mutsaka, reiterated that the exciting tournament, which attracted a capacity crowd at Zamba Primary School in Sakubva, Mutare during last year’s finals, is a good ground for partners who want to take advantage in sharing their services with youths as well as adults who will be in attendance.
“The tournament has a congregating factor for youths. A lot of youths as well as community members converge for these games, hence this is really good ground for partners who want to share their services with youths as well as adults who will be in attendance.
“Over the years, we have had partners from different angles of youths social development thematic areas, and we hope to have the same again this year,” said Mutsaka.
MAJESA administrator, Panganai Mbaradza said they intend to go all the way to the finals.
“We are preparing well for the 2024 edition of the Mai Hondo Tournament. We value the importance of this competition, and as a team, we are aiming at nothing less than doing better than what we did last year. That means reaching the semis or even beyond.”
Last year, in the boys’ category, Mutare junior football ensemble, City Velos beat highly rated La Sakubva to win the coveted silverware for the first time, while perennial girls’ competition winners, Faithdrive beat Nyamauru High School to claim their fifth title on the bounce.
