By Rex Mphisa
CONVENER and host of the Ziyah Media Secondary Schools Soccer Tournament Loadwell Ziyadumah said planning for the just ended third edition was interesting because he put his mind to it.
He made special mention of his wife, he said she was with him in the whole planning exercise.
The tournament won for the third time by Chibi Secondary School, holders from the inaugural three years ago, was flawless.
Ziyadumah said all ingredients were sought to produce a fine memorable day attended by thousands of Beitbridge residents and visitors.
The decorum in the stadium, the public address system, the production of the game and quality of presentation was excellent.
“I enjoyed seeing myself on the large screen. I felt I was in those big stadiums we see on television,” remarked one ball boy.
In his welcoming address Ziyadumah summed up the planning to a single line.
“Being your host, I will not say much, but will share a few things about planning for this event. Everything we planned was interesting to do because we put our hearts to it,” he said.
It was both a pleasure and humbling, he said, to be able to host thousands of people to the tournament now on every calendar year.
“I am humbled to be able to bring all of you here and it is my utmost pleasure to host a big name like Peter Ndlovu who dazzled the English League with his art.”
Dozens of fans after the event, young and old, had memorable photographs with the legend Ndlovu.
Ndlovu, who drove from Johannesburg for the tournament, has several pieces of history to his name.
Some 30 years ago, on March 14 1995, Ndlovu became the first foreign player to score a hattrick against Liverpool at the iconic Anfield Stadium inside three decades.
Turning out for Coventry City, the 16 year old Mzilikazi High School student turned Liverpool inside out, and did all the opponents could not.
He had just become the first African player to feature in the English Premier League.
At home, Ndlovu many times bailed out the Warriors at one time buying tracksuits for the team embarrassed by their dressing at an international game.
He played so many games without getting a cent from the country and would fly in, play in national colours, and fly out to fulfil his EPL fixture.
Such was “Nsukuzonke, The Flying Elephant”, whose goal at the National Stadium against South Africa on their readmission remains a thorn.
That day, he sidestepped the SA goalkeeper leaving him stranded in that 4 -1 drubbing, SA’s biggest loss to Zimbabwe to date.
“It is an honour today and forever big brother, accept my appreciation,” Ziyadumah said to Ndlovu, and the crowd roared in approval.
He turned to Matabeleland South Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Albert Nguluvhe he thanked for leaving his busy schedule to mingle with the young.
“You have travelled the world, you are busy, you have an entire province, but you gave us your time, we really feel honoured,” he said.
“Our effort is to make children realise soccer is no longer fun but business. That had been known in towns, so it is deliberate than we picked rural schools where talent is undiscovered.”
The games presented scouts to see raw talent, he said.
Besides,they were also meant to help fight the drug scourge.
To the athletes, Ziyadumah reminded them that activities such as sports foster vital qualities like discipline, teamwork, commitment, and leadership rgey will need long after leaving school grounds.
“To all our young athletes, I urge you to strive for your best, support and cheer one another, and enjoy every moment of today’s events,” he said.