Bigger, better Mai Hondo around the corner
WHAT began as a mere junior football tournament for eight teams in Mutare eight years ago, is now morphing into a national tournament, with clubs from as far as Binga set to partake in the 2022 edition of the Mai Hondo Tournament.
Modelled around youth behavioural change in the face of rampant drug abuse and vulnerability to HIV and Aids among other social vices since its inception, the Mai Hondo Junior Football Tournament has stood the test of time to become an event to look forward to each year.
The 2022 edition has been slated for December 16 and 17, with the main event set for Sakubva Stadium on December 17.
Preliminary matches will be played at venues in Sakubva, Dangamvura, Showground and Hobhouse.
The top eight teams from Mutare Junior League together with visiting teams from Binga, Chipinge, Buhera, Mutasa, Harare Masvingo and Rusape will participate in the tournament.
Mai Hondo Junior Football Tournament chief associate, Blessing ‘Jah B’ Mutsaka, said: “We are happy to announce that the Mai Hondo Tournament is back after a Covid-19 induced two-year break. We recently held a planning meeting with the Mutare ZIFA Junior Football League executive to launch the tournament.
“Our focus theme this year will be around fighting drug abuse among youths. In addition to the football events, we plan to have organisations that work on drug users’ rehabilitation and drug use prevention on board. This is a result of our realisation that drug abuse is affecting our youths and cutting short players’ careers and at times their lives.
“The usual health, HIV and family planning services will also be provided by our partner organisations,” said Mutsaka.
Mutsaka confirmed that teams from Binga, Chipinge, Buhera, Mutasa, Harare Masvingo and Rusape will compete in the 2022 edition of the exciting competition.
“On the sports side, the tournament is growing with more teams coming from outside Mutare. This year, we expect teams from Binga, Chipinge, Buhera, Mutasa, Harare Masvingo and Rusape in addition to the Mutare-based teams.
“The tournament is growing in leaps and bounce with each passing year. Considering its popularity, from next year we will have regional qualifying rounds to keep the number of teams manageable.
“We are expecting 20 boys’ teams and eight girls’ teams to participate in this year’s edition,” he said.
Mutsaka heartily thanked stakeholders in Mutare who chipped in with different forms of assistance towards the noble initiative.
“We are happy with the support from the Mutare sports fraternity that is pledging prizes and awards. We thank them dearly for this gesture. It is encouraging to note that people are seeing value in this project and that keeps us going. We are open to any individuals or corporates that want to partner the project,” he said.
On the issue of prizes for winners, Mutsaka said: “Our prizes and award structure will be flat to ensure that many teams as possible receive sports equipment.
“All the teams that make it to the quarter finals will receive soccer kits with the winners and runners-up receiving additional sets, plus trophies and medals. We will also have the traditional individual awards for all categories,” said Mutsaka.
There is also a talent developmental plan which will see a crop of best players from the tournament being occasionally called for camp and get concentrated support.
“We will also select a crop of best players from the tournament that we will occasionally call for camp and give them concentrated support.
Hopefully this will help provide a good pool of players for national and provincial selectors,” said Mutsaka.