The Sunday Mail
Online Reporter
ZIFA have lauded organisers of rural football tournaments that have transformed the game in marginalised areas in the past few years.
Of late, there has been an increase in players from rural communities in the Premier Soccer League.
ZIFA Mashonaland East chairperson Oscar Tsvuura believes there is a lot of untapped talent in rural areas.
“It’s good that rural sport is becoming more visible these days,” he said.
Tsvuura will be a guest at the KB Kanyongo Tournament set for Mutoko on Saturday, where Zisengwe FC and Kanyongo FC will clash in the final.
The tournament, which is now in its third year, is sponsored by Kanyongo family members who were raised in Mutoko before relocating to the United States of America.
It is designed to help combat child marriages and also protect rural kids from vices such as drug and alcohol abuse.
“As ZIFA, we see the Kanyongo Football Tournament as a positive move and we support this initiative,” Tsvuura told The Sunday Mail Online.
Former Dynamos goal-minder Laban Kandi, who is now coaching young goalkeepers, will also attend Saturday’s final.
DeMbare coach Tonderai Ndiraya and his assistants Naison Muchekela and Gift “Umbro” Muzadzi were guests at last year’s tournament.
Ndiraya identified three players who were later afforded a chance to train with Dynamos.
Although Mutoko has never produced a Premier Soccer League team before, it has, however, nurtured a number of players who went on to play in the top-flight.
Former Zimbabwe and Kaizer Chiefs captain Willard Katsande hails from Muchengi Village in Mutoko.
FC Platinum assistant coach and former centre-back Daniel Veremu also used a tournament that was held in Mutoko to launch his career.
He was identified at the Olivia Muchena Tournament in 2003 before growing into a prominent player at Gunners, where he won a championship medal in 2009.
He also played for FC Platinum before retiring to take up coaching.
