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Takudzwa Chitsiga Sports Reporter
ALL is set for the first edition of the Freddie Mkwesha Under-17 soccer tournament set for Arcturus High School this weekend. The event has so far seen 13 schools confirming their participation in what is expected to be one of the biggest knockout tournaments at junior level. The event will be staged in honour of one of the few surviving Dynamos founding members Freddie “Mark Makwesha” Mkwesha.

Mkwesha had a prosperous career that saw him becoming the first black Zimbabwean to play professional football in Europe when he joined Portuguese side Sporting de Braga in the mid-1960s and remains an idol to young players.

Secretary of the tournament’s organising committee Aaron Muchatuta said it will be an honour to have a soccer event for a living legend. Some of the schools that are expected to take part at the tournament include hosts Arcturus, Gumbonzvanda, Rujeko, Rusununguko, Goromonzi, St John’s Chikwaka, Mukombami and Chemhanza among several others from Mashonaland East and Central.

“We are organising a soccer tournament to honour Freddie Mkwesha who had an illustrious football career that saw him move from Dynamos to Portugal when he made history by becoming the first black Zimbabwean player to ply his trade in Europe. “The Freddie Mkwesha soccer tournament will be graced by soccer academies and we would also like to invite coaches from both lower leagues and the Premier League.

“Our intention is to promote players in rural schools who cannot have access to play at the highest level because of lack of exposure. “The schools which we have invited are mostly from rural areas and that will be helpful in promoting young talent in such parts of the country,” said Muchatuta.

Some of the schools that are expected to take part at the tournament includes the hosts Acturus, Gumbonzvanda, Rujeko, Rusununguko, Goromonzi, St John’s Chikwaka, Mukombami and Chemhanza among several others from Mashonaland East and Central.