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Midlands Correspondent
The Gweru Area Football Association (GAFA) will today host a junior league tournament dubbed For the Fans which is aimed at nurturing and exposing young talent.

A sponsorship of about $1,500 has been unveiled by local businessman, Innocent Dorisi Tevera which will see six clubs competing.

Nyaningwe, Marhino FC, Ascot Pirates, Shumba, Ndlovu and Young Stars will be participating in the Under 13, 15 and 17 age groups.

Munorwei Masaa, the tournament coordinator, said the tournament which will be played at Ascot Stadium open space as well as St Michael’s Primary School, is part of a series of tournaments the area zone has lined up during the off season as a way of exposing talent to coaches in lower divisions as well as those in the topflight league.

“This is an annual tournament that we hold at the end of every season and this year we are holding it on the last day of the PSL season to remind people that football will still be played after the season is over.

“Our main aim is to expose talent in the youngsters to developmental coaches and some in the lower leagues so that they can be nurtured and become complete players. We have a number of tournaments during the off season which we will be holding as a way of tapping talent from the grassroots,” he said.

As part of the sponsorship package, Masaa said the sponsor will provide each team with a playing kit as well as two match balls.

The GAFA area zone league has been credited for being the breeding ground which has churned out stars like Maxwell Dube, How Mine forward, Kuda Musharu, Jacob Muzokomba and former Chapungu striker, Calisto Maheya among others.