Published by the government of Zimbabwe
Collin Matiza
11 November 2009
Harare — HUNDREDS of sports enthusiasts in Harare's high-density suburbs of Mabvuku and Tafara will this Saturday converge at the Mabvuku Sports Centre for the inaugural Mabvuku/Tafara Sports Festival.
According to one of the festival's organisers, Alfred Marange, participants will compete in eight disciplines soccer, netball, volleyball, cricket, road running, tennis, rugby and basketball during this one-day event.
There will also be a demonstration in karate and weightlifting. "The athletes are going to be drawn from the Under-14, 16 and Open categories. The event will be held under the theme: 'Building a better community through sport',
"This event will give the people of Mabvuku and Tafara the opportunity of showcasing their talents in a number sporting disciplines that are on the programme of events for this day," Marange said.
The sports festival starts at 8am and will run until 4pm. The official opening ceremony will be held between 12noon and 12:30pm.
Meanwhile, Marange has paid tribute to a local Mabvuku resident, Casper Madani, for introducing women from the same suburb to weightlifting.
Marange said Madani, a 72-year-old fitness trainer, has managed to attract women to join the gym club at Mabvuku Sports Centre.
"I would like to congratulate Casper Madani for making a breakthrough in the history of sport in Mabvuku by bringing women to the gym and introducing them to weightlifting." He said the old and ernegetic fitness trainer has got a wealth of ideas and knowledge in weightlifting as well as other sporting disciplines such as boxing and karate. "Historically, participating in sports such as weightlifting has often been characterised with sex stereotypes reinforcement being made for girls not to participate in competitive sport. "What is most striking to me is that the ernegetic old man Madani has managed to attract girls who have a passion in weightlifting and are under the Under-14 age category," Marange said.
Some of the girls from Mabvuku, who have taken weightlifting as a sport, are Sandra Kofi, Willet Kausiyo and Mellisa Gandidzanwa. And Marange said these young girls were "doing wonders" while lifting weights in the gym at Mabvuku Sports Centre.
"From my analysis in sporting events, parents play a pivotal role in building or destroying their children's participation in sport.
"And at this point, I would like to pass my gratitude to the parents of the young girls who are participating in all the sporting disciplines at Mabvuku Sports Centre," Marange said.
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