Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
AFTER losing to eventual Mai Hondo Tournament winners, City Vellos, in a tense semi-final penalty shootout, Manicaland Juniors of Excellence Soccer Academy (MAJESA), are aiming at nothing less than another semis appearance at this year’s edition of the event.
The club is owned by Charles and Nomsa Chave.
From Harare, Blue Stars Academy, First Step Academy and AJ Academy have already made it into the finals to be held in Mutare, while CM Academy from Chipinge has also made it to the list of teams to participate in the finals.
Qualifiers for teams based in Mutare will be held at Mutare Boys’ High on Sunday.
About 21 teams that include Sakubva United FC, City Strikers FC, La Sakubva FC, FC Reactors, Future Promises FC, Young Stars Academy FC, Sheckon Stars FC, Sporting Athletic FC, Young Eagles FC, Young Boys FC, Mutare United FC, Destiny Juniors FC, SAFA FC, AC Academy FC, Faith Drive FC, Brightstars FC, Golden Stars FC, Mutare City FC, MAJESA Academy FC, EBSA Mutasa FC and Mutare Boys’ High will battle it out for the seven slots reserved for Mutare-based teams.
Defending champions, City Vellos, have an automatic finals qualification ticket.
The teams that qualify will join three teams from Harare, two teams from Masvingo, one from Zvishavane and each from Rusape, Zvishavane and Binga.
MAJESA administrator, Panganai Mbaradza said: “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 other than doing better than we did last time, which means reaching at least the semis or even the finals.”
Mai Hondo chief associate, Blessing Mutsaka said the tournament, which attracted a capacity crowd at Zamba Primary School in Sakubva, Mutare during last year’s final encounter, is good ground for partners who want to showcase their services to youths and adults alike.
“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 take their services to youths and adults out there. Over the years, we have had partners from different angles of youth social development thematic areas, and we hope to have the same this year,” he said.
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 aclaim their fifth title on the bounce.
