Pomp, fanfare at Shundure Tournament
THE return of football action to lower leagues across the country after a lengthy Covid-19 induced lay-off saw folks in Chipinge turning Southdown’s Durama Grounds into a hive of activity as Mutare-based football Division Two club, Final Touch clinched the exciting Shundure Invitational Tournament Trophy.
The annual football fête is sponsored by Chipinge businessman, Mathew Shundure.
It was such a memorable Sunday afternoon deep in the thickets of Southdown Tea Estates in Chipinge as six teams, Final Touch, Rekaofela, GP Timers, Silverstream and Mozambican-based side, Kwachu-Kwachu battled for top honours.
Final Touch squared up against the Birchenough Bridge-based GP Timers in an encounter that had all the ingredients of a final match.
Final Touch beat GP Timers 2-0. Rekaofela battled it out with Kwachu-Kwachu in an exciting encounter where the youngest goalkeeper-of-the-tournament, 15-year-old Simon Mkombwe of Kwachu-Kwachu displayed some rare antics as he denied powerfully driven shots by Rekaofela players.
His ball timing, agility and reflexes were amble testimony of a fine youngster destined for the elite class.
However, that could not stop Rekafela from progressing to the finals after another penalty shootout which came after both team teams remained deadlocked at one-all at the final whistle. Final Touch got the better of fellow Division Two outfit, Rokafela in the much-dreaded penalty lottery.
Tournament sponsor, Shundure said: “A million thanks goes to Southdown Holdings who allowed us to use their facilities for the tournament. We are also grateful to our match commentator, Bornwell Sidhuli. He did us proud as we actually have our own Charles Mabika in the making. I really want to urge him to never look back. The future is so bright for him in that field.
“Fans also came out in their numbers despite the bad weather. Special mention also goes to all the participating teams.”