The inaugural Honourable Emily Jesaya Sports Tournament, held at Oliver Juru Primary School in Goromonzi, concluded yesterday with a resounding success that far exceeded initial expectations.
What began as a community initiative blossomed into a high-profile scouting and branding hub, attracting the giants of Zimbabwean sport and setting a new benchmark for grassroots development.
In a massive endorsement of the talent in Goromonzi, the Premier Soccer League (PSL) descended on the tournament in full force.
At least eight elite teams turned up not only to exhibit their brands but to actively scout for the next generation of football stars.
The star-studded line-up of clubs included CAPS United, Highlanders, FC Platinum, Simba Bhora FC, Herentals FC, TelOne FC, ZPC Kariba, and the ambitious Scottland FC, alongside Hunters.
The diversity of sporting codes was equally impressive. Beyond football, the event hosted the Makate High Flyers netball team, Bodybuilders4ED, the Zimbabwe National Boxing & Wrestling Control Board, the Zimbabwe Electronic Games Association, and the Korfball Association of Zimbabwe.
For the tournament's visionary, Sports, Recreation, Arts and Culture deputy minister Emily Jesaya, the event was a strategic strike against the pandemic of drug and substance abuse.
"What motivated me to have this initiative is because we have quite a number of youth who have been engaging in drug and substance abuse," Jesaya said.
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"Our ministry deals with the demand reduction pillar where we are saying, before the youth even think of getting themselves into drugs, what activities can we give them to keep them busy?
“I’m happy because it has come to fruition... this was an opportunity to engage with school-going children and also to give them a platform to do something that actually contributes to their health and physical well-being."
The event integrated traditional wisdom through Nhanga and Gota sessions, where community elders mentored youth on life skills, navigating adulthood, and responsible citizenship.
The competition across the three days was fierce, with 45 teams battling through knockouts to reach the finals.
The rewards for excellence were significant, as the winning teams in the tournament walked away with the Honourable Emily Jesaya Sports Tournament Champion Trophy and US$2 000. The teams finishing in second place were awarded a shield and US$1 000, while the third-place finishers across all disciplines walked away with US$500.
Special awards were also reserved for individual best performers to ensure that raw talent was recognized and nurtured.
The guest of honour, Health and Child Care deputy minister Sleiman Timios Kwidini, lauded the initiative for its holistic approach to national health.
"This is a very big initiative which is recommended by our president, His Excellency, to make sure that when we do things like this, it unites people and instills discipline amongst youths," Kwidini said.
"By doing so, it means there is a reduction of using drugs and substances... when doing sports, obviously, you are making your health well, so that we don’t have these challenges of physical, emotional, and psychological health.
“We want to thank Honourable Jesaya for this initiative, and we are going to see this initiative going all around the country."
With a heavy emphasis on inclusion, Jesaya expressed her desire to see the tournament grow to include wheelchair volleyball and para-soccer in future editions.
From the vibrant displays of Korfball to the precision of the boxing showcases, the tournament proved that Goromonzi is a fertile ground for athletic excellence.
