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Innocent Kurira, Sports Reporter
BULAWAYO teams are buzzing with excitement ahead of the Marvelous Nakamba Foundation (MNF) Invitational Under-17 tournament set for White City Stadium on Saturday.

Eight teams, Highlanders, Njube Spurs, Dynamos, Majesa Academy, Chicken Inn, Bulawayo City, Ajax Hotspurs and Hwange Dynamo, will take part in the inaugural tournament.

The teams have been drawn into 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 while the other group has Chicken Inn, Bulawayo City, Ajax Hotspurs as well as Hwange Dynamo.

Bulawayo teams in the competition are excited by the prospect of their juniors playing in an event of this magnitude.

Highlanders marketing and communications officer Nozibelo Maphosa said: “Preparations have been going well.

We have submitted all the required documents for registration.

The team has been participating in the Zifa Bulawayo Provincial Youth League, and they are excited and ready for the tournament.”

Chicken Inn media officer Nkululeko Nkala said they are not going into the competition to make up numbers, but to display their development initiatives.

“The coaches have been hard at work with the boys.

We obviously believe in catching them young and this tournament has come at a good time.

We are ready for the weekend and we are not going there to make up numbers,” said Nkala.

Thandiwe Moyo from Bulawayo City also expressed their desire to win the competition.

“We are excited to be taking part in this competition.

Obviously, when you compete in a tournament of this magnitude, the goal is to win the trophy,” said Moyo.

Ajax Hotspurs director Siphambaniso Dube said fans should expect quality football from his side on Saturday.

“Ajax always exudes quality. We will go in as underdogs, but we have the talent to surprise many.

We are on point with preparations and the best of talent will be on display.

The fans are in for a real treat.

“Bulawayo people should come in numbers to support the Nakamba Youth Tournament.

He is our idol and we embrace him for investing in the community that nurtured him,” said Dube.

“The MNF believes in enriching children, hence the motto ‘We believe every child can succeed’”.

– @innocentskizoe