Zimfest 2009 Seven a side Tournaments attract big names.

Whatever the case, over the festivals nine years, very little has ever been mentioned of the sporting tournaments held during the festival. Although a very integral part of Zimfest, the rugby and football tournaments arent always the highest profile of events held at the festival. This year, however, was a notable exception. Not only were there some great teams participating and some fantastic matches throughout, there was also the notable presence of some football legends past and present who graced the occasion.

Luther Blissett, former AC Milan striker and one of the first black football players to play in Italy, Rufus Brevett, former Queens Park Rangers, Fulham and West Ham defender and Ian Walker, legendary England and Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper attended as participating guests at the football tournament. Zimbabwe team captain and Manchester City striker Benjani Mwaruwaru also made an appearance as a supporter of the event.

Zimfest Marketing Manager Mike Tashaya says: This year our football and rugby tournaments were the most successful ever thanks to Brand Africa / Soccer Safari sponsoring the football tournament and the massively popular Saracens Rugby Club sponsoring our rugby tournament. We are also grateful for the presence of such prolific and legendary football icons that added a sense of occasion to the event and indeed raised the profile of the tournaments.

The winners of the football tournament South West Ballerz were presented with a trophy, as well as player of the tournament and man of the final match; while Saracens Rugby team provided a trophy and tickets to Wembley to ZESA the winners of the rugby tournament.

Zimfest 2009 will certainly go down in history as not only one of the biggest and best all round festivals ever hosted, but one of the most memorable and best organised. As for the football and rugby tournaments, this year sets the benchmark for even bigger future tournaments, possibly to even rival the main festival.