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The ministry has a sustained sporting programme that cuts across both the primary and secondary school curriculum. The first school term is a busy one and much of athletics activities keep sports management organs, heads and teachers very busy.

It is now term two. Matabeleland North Province, like other provinces across the country, looks ahead to or is involved in very hectic ball games. The Ingwebu Breweries tournament, with the provincial finals scheduled for today at Loziba Primary School in Inyathi, Bubi District, is one to watch. Last year’s finals were held in Tsholotsho District.

In Matabeleland, a similar tournament took place at White City, Bulawayo Province, last week while Matabeleland South will play host to the grand regional final at Pelandaba Stadium in Gwanda on 3 August.

Ingwebu Breweries poured a staggering $30 000 into the regional schools soccer tournament. It is reported that of this total sponsorship package, $15 950 will go towards prizes.

The grand final winners will pocket $2 000, first runners-up will receive $1 500 while the third- and fourth-placed teams will be rewarded with $1 000 and $800 respectively.

Ingwebu Breweries is lauded for its unwavering sense of community responsibility and sports development following its injection of over $2 500 to be won at provincial finals. Provincial winners are set to pocket $1 000 with $800 for the first runners-up, $600 for third place and $500 for the team placed fourth.

Commenting on the schools’ sports sponsorship for this year, the Ingwebu Breweries general manager, marketing and corporate affairs, Mr Themba Sibanda, said his company would sponsor each of the three regional finals before the grand regional final on 3 August in Gwanda.

“Our sponsorship for this year goes back to its original setup where we are going to have finals in each of the three provinces before the grand final on 3 August in Gwanda,” said Mr Sibanda.

He said this year’s sponsorship was treble that of last year. Propelled by the desire to win the prizes, the seven districts of Matabeleland North — Bubi, Binga, Lupane, Tsholotsho, Umguza, Hwange and Nkayi — were in recent weeks frantically perfecting their teams ahead of the provincial competitions to be held in Bubi District at Loziba Primary School.

A Nkayi District sports administrator who spoke on condition of anonymity, expressed satisfaction on the district’s chances of winning.

“Although we are yet to announce our final team, our chances of winning the provincial prize are bright. Our teams have always been the best,” the official said recently. He revealed that as a district, they would ensure that meritocracy prevails over mediocrity in the selection of the district team during inter-cluster competitions.

A National Association for Primary Heads (NAPH) Matabeleland North official, hailed Ingwebu Breweries’ partnership with schools emphasising that the company seems to be practising its true role of corporate responsibility.

“We applaud Ingwebu Breweries for its good gesture of community corporate responsibility that it has extended to our schools,” he said.

He added that all the logistics for today’s event were in place. Football grounds, netball and basketball courts were being spruced up ahead of the Ingwebu Breweries sporting extravaganza.

Ingwebu Breweries is highly lauded for its unwavering passion for grassroots sports support. However, it is saddening to note that other companies investing in Matabeleland region have not shown much keenness to support sporting infrastructure and activities. Matabeleland region has vast sporting talent that goes to waste due to lack of tapping and talent development institutions.

There are hundreds of talented youths whose passion for sport recedes into oblivion with time due to the absence of infrastructure. Matabeleland North needs soccer, volleyball, basketball, and rugby and tennis academies to absorb and train hundreds of youths.

Education should be holistic and the setting up of such sports facilities will go a long way towards the development of sports-oriented children leaving school. Big companies operating in Matabeleland North are implored to set up a fund to be channelled towards the construction of a sports academy for the province. We desperately need an academy to develop and sharpen all this amazing talent going to waste in the province.

The setting up of such a facility will not only enhance sport in the province but will also go a long way towards reciprocating national vision on sport which has been aptly enunciated by President Mugabe.

Speaking before the Benjani Mwaruwari testimonial match which featured the football star’s foreign friends in Harare a few weeks ago, the President praised Benjani for his good initiative in setting up the Benjani Mwaruwari Foundation. The President hinted that a fully-fledged sports ministry would be established in no time.

“We regard sport as part of education. It is managed by the Ministry of Education, but perhaps we might have to establish an entire Ministry of Sport so as to give it that attention which it deserves,” said President Mugabe after meeting African football stars.

Clearly a stand-alone Ministry for Sport would come with a lot of activities. Sports academies must also be established to complement the national vision on sport. Like Ingwebu Breweries, other companies must support sport in Matabeleland North.