By Rex Mphisa
THE host of the much expected annual Ziyah Media soccer extravaganza, the third edition, has said backstage preparations are in full swing.
In an interview on Thursday Ziyah Media Chief Executive Loadwell Ziyadumah said the games will be free as they have been fully sponsored.
“This is a plough back to the community. Everything is fully sponsored, and we have already paid match officials. This is for the benefit of our soccer loving community,” he said.
He said his sponsors in South Africa and Zimbabwe were keen to give for free Beitbridge soccer lovers a bash of raw talent from schools.
There will be no charges at the entry points.
Some ZIFA officials who had been expected to grace the big event, where Ziyah Media has partnered Government to host the tournament, excused themselves since they will be fresh from attending another gala in Beitbridge.
“They said it will be difficult because a week before our big day, they will attend to another big soccer gala hosted in honour of Vice President Kembo Mohadi,” said Ziyadumah.
Arrangements were, however, underway to have the event graced by another icon, most probably a yesteryear soccer great.
“We hope we are not too late for Peter Ndlovu. We want someone who gives the tournament the weight and seriousness it deserves. Soccer, as you may be aware is no longer just football, but a way of life, a profession, a business,” he said.
Tournament organiser Arthur Muwoni on Wednesday said 10 schools with nine of them from Beitbridge and defending champions Chibi High School the 10th.
The teams play a five-team round robin in groups A and B with winners in each group locking horns in the final.
Runners up from the two groups square for third and fourth place.
Tongwe, Vhembe, Zezani, Siyoka, and Nuli High Schools are in Group A while defending champions Chibi High has been drawn with Malala, Fountain College, St Marys and Malungudzi High Schools.
Interestingly, Zezani High School, in group A are the national secondary school champions and will face rheir nemesis Tongwe High School in their group encounters.
Another soccer powerhouse St Mary’s will rock with Chibi and Malungudzi in group B which is highly unpredictable.
Chibi has been breeding soccer stars, the likes of Tanyaradzwa Makore who plies his trade in the Zifa Central Region Division One League where he turns out for Dulivhadzimu United.
The tournament hich used to host schools from across the country has been scaled down to district level to capture unexposed Beitbridge talent.
This year it comes after the different ZIFA leagues throughout the country will have folded for the 2025 season making the occasion at Beitbridge a”not to miss” event.
Socer talent scouts have been following preparations and event reports with keen interest.