The ManicaPost
Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
THE second edition of the exciting Trust The Process (TTP) Under-18 Tournament, has not only earned the partnership of former Warriors striker, Nyasha Mushekwi, but the general public, if the crowd that witnessed the event is anything to go by.
Friends of the game of football, including former Gunners and CAPS United boss, Cuthbert Chitima, were treated to exhilarating football action during this year’s edition of the competition.
Elite Academy of Dangamvura successfully defended their title when they emerged winners of this year’s edition of the competition, while Faith Drive also from Dangamvura settled for the bridesmaid position.
Sporting Athletic of Hobhouse came third.
Faith Drive, P Stars, A C Academy, All Stars, Eastville, Elite Academy, Jomo Cosmos, Checheche, Masasi Academy and the Hobhouse-suburb based Sporting Athletic made up the list of teams that took part in the tournament.
Founder and chief executive of the TTP project, Kudzanai Mbondo, who is based in China and was not present during this year’s edition of the tournament, said: “We are excited that the tournament was a huge success. It is something that we hope will be able to provide a platform for many youngsters whose talents are going unnoticed. No doubt, we will have a much bigger and better tournament in the next edition as we look forward to grow in leaps and bounds.”
Speaking from his China base, Mushekwi said: “I am happy to be part of the TTP Dangamvura Under-18 Tournament which was a success and we thank God for that.
“Junior football is something which is very important and that is why I decided to partner with Trust The Process Zimbabwe for this tournament. I hope as a nation we can keep on helping these youngsters through these junior tournaments. Lastly, congratulations to the winners and let us continue trusting the process.”
Chitima, who donated US$200 towards the player of the tournament award, was impressed with the level of competition and talent exhibited during the final encounter that he also witnessed.
“I think as a country we need more of these tournaments. This is the only way we can bridge the gap between the current crop of players and those we will have as our stars in future.
“We really need to be serious about junior football if we are to entertain hopes of making an impact in international competitions when we eventually re-join the global family of football playing nations,” said the former Gunners and CAPS United boss.
In the inaugural edition of the event, Elite Academy winners walked away with the winners’ prize, while P Stars Juniors were the runners-up.
TTP clothing band is the main sponsor of the event, but this year, China-based former Warriors striker, Mushekwi and Clubhouse International also poured resources to see the successful staging of the annual football competition.
