Annual Freedom Trophy tourney kicks off

Sponsored by Johannesburg-based Zimbabwean businessman Freedom Ndlovu, the competition draws together 10 primary schools that form the Marinoha community, who compete in an elimination basis that sees eight teams – four each for boys and girls – proceeding to a one-day final.

The schools then battle it out in netball and soccer, with the winner taking home the trophy and prize money.

“Ten schools that will participate this year have already been drawn up and will commence their elimination rounds this week,” Ndlovu said.

“The semi-finals and finals will be held at Marinoha primary school next Thursday and this year’s competition carries an overall total of R7 000 in prizes.”

Ndlovu, who also sponsors a number of other beneficial projects in the Marinoha community, said his sponsorship of the sports tournament, which began in 1998, is part of his giving back to the community in which he grew up.

“I will never dump this community because I really love it. Bigger things are in the pipeline and my wish is for this tournament to be the star-building ground of the Matabeleland South province and Zimbabwe as a whole. I would also like to encourage parents of participating schools to buy tennis shoes and playing boots for their children as a way of encouraging them to perform well.”

The participating schools in this year’s tournament are hosts Marinoha, Mbuso, Gubula, Silonkwe, Zamanyoni, St Anna, Tjewondo, Hingwe, Mbembeswane and Guardian Angels, who will battle it out for the last four.