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Innocent Kurira, Sports Reporter
ORGANISERS of the Marvelous Nakamba Foundation (MNF) Under-17 Invitational tournament say they expect all participating teams to have arrived in Bulawayo on Friday, a day before the tournament kicks off.

This will be the first edition of what will be an annual youth football tournament following its suspension last year due to rising Covid-19 cases.

Tournament director Nduduzo Sibanda said they are working around the clock to ensure that the tournament runs smoothly.

“We expect all the teams in Bulawayo on Friday.

We are planning to have other programmes that will make the competition exciting.

As things stand, everything is in place.

We will be making further announcements, but those who will make time to be at White City Stadium will have a memorable experience,” said Sibanda.

Fixtures for the tournament were released yesterday with Dynamos and Highlanders set to clash in game five in Group A.

Participating teams have been placed in two groups of four, with the top teams in each group meeting in the final.

Dynamos and Highlanders are in Group A alongside Njube Spurs and MAJESA.

Group B has Chicken Inn, Bulawayo City, Ajax Hotspurs and Hwange Dynamo.

The official launch was held in Borrowdale, Harare, last week.

The kits to be used by each team in the tournament were also unveiled at the official launch.

All eight teams will get full tracksuits for up to 20 people.

Nakamba, who is on an off-season break from the English Premier League where he plays for Aston Villa, believes that grassroots football is key for the survival of the local game.

The midfielder is expected to attend the two-day tournament together with a number of renowned football scouts.

Fixtures

Group A

Highlanders vs Njube Spurs, Majesa Academy vs Dynamos, Njube Spurs vs Dynamos, Highlanders vs Majesa Academy, Dynamos vs Highlanders, Njube Spurs vs Majesa Academy

Group B

Ajax Hotspurs vs Chicken Inn, Bulawayo City vs Hwange Dynamo, Chicken Inn vs Hwange Dynamo, Ajax Hotspurs vs Bulawayo City, Hwange Dynamo vs Ajax Hotspurs, Chicken Inn vs Bulawayo City
-@innocentskizoe