The ManicaPost
Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
ITS name, in its literal sense, is in stark contrast to the orderliness and socially constructive activities that were paraded throughout the tournament, especially during the electrifying environment created during the finals at Sakubva Stadium last week on Saturday.
The exhilarating atmosphere and total classy act, punctuated by the presence of world class sports-caster, Charles ‘CNN’ Mabika, is a far cry from the literal translation of its name.
Ladies and gentlemen, this is all about the 2022 edition of the Mai Hondo Youth Tournament!
When loosely translated into the Queen’s language, the Shona noun ‘Hondo’ means war.
Named after the late mother of tournament’s chief associate, Blessing Mutsaka, whose elder brother, Farai’s nickname is Hondo, the 2022 edition of the Mai Hondo junior football contest – the sixth since inception – was just the correct prescription for players growing up with their careers in an environment contaminated by drug abuse and reckless sexual misconduct.
The presence of organisations such as Saywhat, giving pep talks to participating teams and running competitions for the spectators on drug abuse issues as well as sexual and reproductive health, the tents in the stadium from where awareness messages on social ills were churned with spectators walking in and talking to trained facilitators as well as counsellors on drug abuse and sexual and reproductive health, free HIV testing and counselling as well as voluntary medical male circumcision services, all left a lasting impression of a junior football competition that seeks to mould a complete and responsible player.
The Mai Hondo Youth Tournament chief associate and member of the organising committee, Mutsaka, said: “At the end of the day, football and youth empowerment was the eventual winner because of the huge numbers that we saw and services that were offered.
“We are happy that both aspects of the tournament went well. We witnessed good competition and sportsmanship from the teams. We are also thrilled by the support we are getting from youth focused organisations.
“We managed to select the best 25 participants and will support them with training camps. We will also facilitate that they play teams outside Manicaland to improve their skills and competitiveness. We will support that cohort of talented kids as they grow in their soccer journey.”
Breath-taking action, spiced with moments of team and individual brilliance, was a treat offered to the spectators by virtually all the 32 teams that participated from across the country at the annual tournament.
Of them all, it was Binga Academy who travelled 828km to mark their presence in this prestigious junior football tourney that touched the hearts of many.
Being the underdogs, they punched above their weight and reached the quarter finals.
However, in the end, it was an all Mutare final, both in the boys’ and girls’ categories.
Defending champions in the boys’ category, La Sakubva successfully defended the title after a thrilling final against local city rivals, Sheckon Stars who were looking forward to win the gong for the fourth time.
After settling for a 1-1 draw in regulation time, it needed a penalty shootout lottery for La Sakubva to take it home and for their coach, Timothy “Sicho” Masachi it was a good experience for his youngsters.
“I am happy that my boys did well to defend the title. I remember telling them that we only going back with the trophy to the tournament to polish it and we did that.
“We hope to have more of such sponsors because such tournaments help the youngsters to build self-confidence and it gives them experience,” he said.
In the girls’ category, three-time champions, Faith Drive Queens failed to defend their title as they lost 1-3 on penalties to Mutare City Rovers Queens which was led by their former assistant coach, Zenzele Musikavanhu.
“It is a great feeling for me to win this tournament. This has always been my wish and finally it happened. I want to salute all my players for the courage they showed and the fighting spirit,” said Musikavanhu.
At the end, all participating teams were handed over soccer balls and training equipment, while the 12 best teams, eight from the boys’ side and four from the girls’ side walked away with full kits.
