The ManicaPost
Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
FEEL it, it is here!
The 2022 edition of the exciting Mai Hondo Junior Football Tournament rolls into life this weekend, with group stage matches set for today (Friday) at different venues in Mutare and the finals scheduled for Sakubva Stadium tomorrow (Saturday).
The 2022 edition of the tournament is the sixth one after the junior football competition — which is fast turning out to be Manicaland’s flagship age group football contest — took a sabbatical in the past two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
As ample evidence of its growing popularity and influence, this year, the Mai Hondo Junior Football Tournament will feature clubs from far afield as Binga, Masvingo and Harare.
Mai Hondo Junior Football Tournament chief associate, Blessing ‘Jah B’ Mutsaka, said: “We are excited to be back after a two-year Covid-19 induced break. We look forward to the tournament and we are happy with the increasing number of girls’ teams as well as the reach of the tournament. For the first time, we will have a team from Matebeleland North (Binga) and Masvingo.”
Unlike most football tournaments that focus on the game, the Mai Hondo Junior Football Tournament places its focus in moulding a complete player.
“As per our tradition, we are partnering organisations that provide services to youths and the community in general. Organisations will be providing family planning services, voluntary medical male circumcision, Covid-19 vaccination and HIV testing and counselling to the community.
“Also, new on the list of services that will be provided this year is the anti-drug abuse campaign, coupled with referral to rehabilitation services as well as mental health talks. We are excited about the growing suite of services that come along with the tournament,” said Mutsaka.
A match featuring legends of the game of football from Harare against those based in Mutare will curtain raise for the girls’ and boys’ finals in honour of the departed former Tanganda FC player, Johnson ‘Enzo’ Mbaradza.
“We will be having a legends game featuring Team Harare up against Manicaland Ambassadors (legends) as curtain raisers to the girls and boys finals. This match is in honour of the late celebrated Mutare midfielder, Johnson Mbaradza,” said Mutsaka.
For the organisers of the competition, it is an achievement to see what began as a mere junior football tournament for eight teams in Mutare eight years ago now morphing into a national tournament.
Modelled around youth behavioural change in the face of rampant drug abuse and vulnerability to HIV and Aids, among other social vices since its inception, the Mai Hondo Junior Football Tournament has stood the test of time to become an event to look forward to each year.
Top eight teams from Mutare Junior League will be eligible to participate, together with visiting teams from Binga, Chipinge, Buhera, Mutasa, Harare Masvingo and Rusape.
