The ManicaPost
Freedom Mutanda
Correspondent
ALL sports roads in Chipinge last weekend led to Maronga Primary School where four soccer sides and six netball teams battled for honours in the Mahachuya Makuyana tournament.
Thomson Makuyana, a Harare-based real estate mogul who traces his routes to Mwacheta, bankrolled the sports fiesta.
A carnival atmosphere enveloped the area and brought life to the local communities as people converged to witness the event.
Musapingura Warriors and Maronga Queens were the toast of the day as they won the soccer and netball gongs respectively, much to the elation of the sizeable crowd which was in line with the Covid-19 restrictions.
“We are delighted with how things turned out. The participating teams accounted for themsleves very well and the skills exhibited were top notch,” enthused Trust Dube, the chair of the Save Valley Social Soccer League amid jubilation by the winners.
Sabi Bananas saw off Chibuwe Rovers, whose team comprised youngsters, by a narrow margin. Musapingura Warriors slugged it out with Farm 38 and the former walked out 1-0 victors.
Musapingura Warriors clinched gold after overpowering Sabi Bananas in the final.
The opening ten minutes produced a goal which came against the run of play but fifteen minutes later, Sabi Bananas equalised.
So close was the contest that it appeared the second half would not produce goals and take match into extra time.
A Sabi Bananas midfielder toyed around with the ball near his goal area and lost possession after he was pressed by the opponents. He was robbed of possession and his goalkeeper came out to try and narrow the angle. In a flash, a Musapingura Warriors striker lobbed the ball over the drawn out ‘keeper.
With time not on their side, Sabi Bananas could not find the leveller and lsot the match 2-1.
In netball, Sabi Bananas Queens reached the final after beating Musapingura Queens while Maronga Queens edged Tongogara.
The netball decider was a ding-dong affair but Maronga Queens eventually defeated Sabi Bananas by 28-26, a scoreline which depicted the epic nature of the match.
An excited spectator, Clever Makwari, hailed the organisers for holding such a successful competition.
He said football is a unifying factor among communities.
“The way these people braved the hot weather to witness the tournament tells a wonderful story about the power of sport as a unifier. We thank the organisers for bringing the games to our communities,” said Makwari.
