Society24_Zim: PROTON CUP ENDS ON HIGH NOTE

THE inaugural Bulawayo mini football association tournament, sponsored by Proton Bakers, ended on a high note at the Bulawayo Bowling Club grounds on Sunday.

Mini football is a blended version of conventional five and eleven a-side modes of soccer, comprising two teams with six players each, on a smaller outdoor field with two referees controlling the game from pitch sides. Although the game is relatively new in Zimbabwe and its association in Bulawayo is also in its infancy stage, it is popular internationally.

Bulawayo mini football association chairperson, Tonderai Mwale (Ms) said, to date, Zimbabwean mini football was only formalised in Bulawayo and Harare provinces.

“We hope we can grow the game nationally and get a compliment of at least four provinces with functioning associations and leagues to facilitate registration with the Sports and Recreation Commission,” she added.

Mwale explained that the two day tournament held over the weekend was an attempt to popularise the sport whose league kicks off on the 7^th of August.

She implored teams interested in joining the league to contact the association which is housed at the Bowling club offices and was adamant that the spirit exhibited during the tournament was proof that Bulawayo could sustain a vibrant competitive union.

However, Mwale’s plea was for corporate involvement to propel the initiative higher.

“We approached Proton Bakery for sponsorship during this tournament and they responded with cash and gift prizes plus a trophy.”

“We are humbled by such a response because we know how companies are usually apathetic towards small, unknown causes but Proton as you can see has exceeded expectations,” she added.

Proton has been operating in Bulawayo for a few months but is participating in various functions in the city including sports events like the Bulawayo pool tourney and Mr and Ms ZITF, donations and school fees benefits for its customers through promotions and competitions.

With the bread maker’s involvement as a bonus, this weekends’ mini football tournament saw eight teams - namely Gmans Football Club (GFC), Dynamic Diesel (DD), ZRP Bulawayo (ZRP), Market Stars Football Club, Nebusters Football (NF), ZIMRA Football (ZF), Castle Stars (CS), Mountain Climber (MC) and Zone 8 Football - battle for supremacy as the first champions of the competition.

After a competitive day of group games on Saturday, ZRP, DD, ZIMRA and Castle Stars made it to the semi finals on Sunday where Dynamic Diesel overcame ZRP and ZIMRA beat Castle Stars to progress to the final.

The resultant tournament decider was a hard fought, entertaining and taught exhibit which ended in a one all stalemate and had to be settled through penalties.

Dynamic Diesel proved more precise than ZIMRA putting all their six spot kicks past the tax men’s goalie while the revenue collectors saw one of their own ricochet off the upright, condemning them to a 6 – 5 loss at the hands of a self motivated diesel force.

This result signalled the end of action on the pitch and attention shifted to the Proton ensemble for awards where DD were aptly rewarded for their efforts, scooping the majority of prizes.

Handing out the Prizes was Proton Bulawayo sales and marketing coordinator Mduduzi Mathe, a natural crowd favourite for representing a company which was sprinkling confetti on an already happy gathering.

The pictures below tell the full story...