By Tatiana Mhararira
Social soccer club, Strikers FC won the Masvingo Youth Champions Trophy at the tournament held at Mucheke Stadium from August 14 to 16, 2024.
Strikers FC lifted the trophy after winning 1-0 against LOG FC in the finals making them gold winners and champions of the tournament.
The tournament was organized as a way of fighting against drug and substance abuse, child, marriages as well as bringing entertainment for youths in and around Masvingo urban.
Strikers FC coach Doubt Banda said winning the tournament was a big achievement and it’s not the outcome that matters but the journey they traveled.
“Winning is always a great feeling, but for us it’s also just about the journey and the growth we have experienced as a team.
“We were runners-up for the previous tournament which wasn’t our best. So this win is dedicated to our supporters who despite losing the previous tournament came to support us and would like to thank the players and our patron Prophet Charles Makaya for making us reach this far by running the team’ logistics,” said Banda.
Pangolin Giants coach Tafadzwa Maguranye, said he was excited with the opportunity to showcase his team’s talent.
“It felt great for my team to participate at this tournament. It was a great chance for both coaches and players to showcase their abilities though we did not win,” said Maguranye.
SanSiro FC coach Martin Mberikwazvo said he was confident his team would win because they had put a lot of effort, though the tournament proved to be tough for them
“As a coach, I expected my team to win, and I was very confident that we will win the tournament, as we had prepared well for it however we did not win as per our expectation but next time we will win,”
“However, we are happy that the tournament lived up to its expectations of promoting youth development and discouraging drug and substance abuse,” said Mberikwazvo.
One of the tournament sponsors, Masvingo City Women’s Quota Councilor Alaica Time said she sponsored the tournament because the young boys got entertainment and refrain from committing crime.
Another sponsor Ronald Mberikunashe said he supported the tournament with money for logistics that ensured the tournament was inclusive and accessible to all members of the community.
The teams which participated include Lavlum FC, Chinemhere FC, Pangolin Giants, LOG FC, Masvingo Christian College, KC Academy, SanSiro FC, Damusa FC, and Hotscre FC.
The tournament was a follow-up of the Hazel Nhamburo Tournament held in April 2024, where Masvingo Christian College faced Strikers FC in the finals.
