LM Auctioneers Cup tourney dates change
THE LM Auctioneers Cup that had been slated for the second weekend of next month has been moved to 16 December to make way for Inline Academy player, Rejoice Kampfuvuti’s wedding.
The initial date had been set as 9 to 11 December but the local football leadership highlighted that Kampfuvuti’s wedding is slated for December 10 and it would be unfair to steal the thunder with the tournament.
Lewis Muzhara, director of LM Auctioneers, which is funding the tourney, confirmed the change in dates, saying Kampfuvuti is one of the local football heroines who featured regularly for the Mighty Warriors.
“I think it is only fair that we give the other girls an opportunity to go and celebrate with Rejoice because it’s her big day, we felt it prudent to move the dates but everything else is still in place and the tournament is now going ahead from 16 to 18 December,” he said.
Muzhara said they had set up a local organising committee that is led by Southern Region chairman, Takundwa Chimundiya which will handle preparations for the tournament adding they are working to secure the Barbourfields Outside Grounds for the knockout tournament.
Chimundiya, who is also the Inline manager, said they have started preparations and teams that have been earmarked for the tourney are Botswana sides, Double Action and Township Rollers, Harare-based teams Black Rhinos, Blue Swallows and Flame Lily while from Gweru there is Chipembere and the top two teams in the Southern Region League, Inline and Hearts of Oak complete the line-up.
He said they are now seized with organising the tourney which is making a return after a two-year absence and would be announcing the finer details in due course.
A budget of $20 000 has been set aside for the tournament and will cater for prizes, accommodation, food and transport for the participating teams. LM Cup made its debut in 2010 with the last edition being held in 2012.
Bulawayo-based New Orleans has won it twice, the inaugural edition and second year while Rhinos clinched it in 2012.
Muzhara is an enthusiast of women’s football and has supported the Mighty Warriors on several occasions and also travelled with the national side to the Rio Olympics in Brazil in August.