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Fungai Nyamutukwa-Mpfeka

Sports Reporter
EIGHT Bulawayo-based women’s teams will compete in the second edition of the Thembalethu Foundation soccer tournament at Raylton Sports Club next month.

Last year New Orleans, Borrow Jets, Highlanders, Cowdray Park Queens, Sobukhazi and Street Sets took part in the inaugural tournament won by New Orleans.

Thembalethu Foundation chairperson Fungai Nyamutukwa-Mpfeka, a former national team player and manager, said the objective of the competition is to “change lives and bring hope to girls through football”.

She said they had secured medals and playing kits from their United Kingdom contacts.

“Last year we had a great tournament where six clubs battled it out and this time around we’re hoping to have eight teams. We’ve asked the Southern Region Women’s Football League to invite the teams that will participate in the tournament. We also hope that the Southern Region Soccer League’s management, the clubs, strategic partners and the media will give us the same support they did when we held our first tournament. Our hope is to make this year’s competition bigger and better.

“All teams that will participate will get playing kits,” said Nyamutukwa-Mpfeka.

Thembalethu Foundation’s strategic partners include Nokel Security, Swivel Metal Engineering, Elicon Construction and Baker’s Inn.

Comedian Oliver Keith and friends donated sanitary pads to the girls that took part in last year’s tournament.

This year’s event will be held on the weekend of December 9-10.