Senior Sports Reporter
ZIFA’S Bulawayo Metropolitan Province Junior League has cancelled weekend matches involving teams participating in the third edition of an Under-14 tournament sponsored by legendary former Highlanders captain, Thulani “Biya” Ncube.

Four teams, Magwegwe North’s Matabele Warriors, Gwabalanda Pirates, Luveve Academy and FMHA Umguza of Cowdray Park, will compete in this year’s Thulani “Biya” Ncube and Friends Under-14 competition set for Gwabalanda’s Amakhosi Grounds this Saturday.

Zifa Bulawayo Metropolitan Province board member, Mkhululi Mthunzi, applauded Ncube for his involvement in grassroots development and challenged other former players to plough back into the communities that supported their rise to stardom.

“The work being done by Biya to remember his roots should be an inspiration to other ex-footballers not to forget where their careers were shaped. These youngsters need a helping hand and a purpose to find their destiny, and we believe that Biya is doing that through his tournament,” said Mthunzi.

“To ensure that the tournament is a success, we’ve postponed fixtures involving teams participating in the competition.”

FMHA Umguza were scheduled to take on Sizane High School while Chicken Inn had a date with Luveve Academy. Matabele Warriors’ fixture against Amini Soma-Phiri’s Luveve Big XI has also been postponed alongside Gwabalanda Pirates’ against Mountain Climbers.

FMHA Umguza and Luveve Academy are in Seria A while Matabele Warriors and Gwabalanda Pirates compete in the B tier of the Zifa Bulawayo Junior League.

Participating teams will get playing kits as well as monetary prizes for individual awards.

Magwegwe North won the first edition while Cowdray Park are the defending champions.

Mthunzi said tournament rules are available at the Zifa Southern Region offices.

The Zifa Bulawayo Junior League only set two conditions for the tournament organisers, which are the use of match officials appointed by the referees’ committee and for players to use their existing 2015 licences.

Stanley Mpofu, the tournament organiser, said the draw for the tournament would be held at Amakhosi Grounds on Friday.

The Thulani “Biya” Ncube and Friends competition is aimed at identifying and developing talented young soccer players.

Ncube, who captained Highlanders, the Young Warriors and the Warriors, launched the tournament with his friends Tawanda Chipata, Mlamuli Ncube and Dan Dube, who are based in the United States of America, South Africa and the United Kingdom respectively.

Former Highlanders and Railstars junior coach Ali Baba Dube, Biya’s former teammates at Highlanders — Thabani Masawi, Bekithemba Ndlovu, Gift Lunga Jnr and Dazzy Kapenya — are likely to be used to scout for exceptional talent in the tournament.

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