TICHAONA MATARUSE
The Sport and Recreation department in Matabeleland North Province will this Saturday launch a Zimbabwe Premier Beach Football League (ZPBFL) which seeks to empower youths, mainly from Hwange District.
According to ZPBFL chairman Lunguza Ndlovu, the on-going launch is being held at Lukosi Secondary School and it intends to create employment opportunities for the youths as well as nurturing talents while also curbing negative social behaviors such as drug abuse.
“We are starting off with the under 19 boys, but we will also be introducing the sport to all lower age groups like under 18, 17, 16, 15 and below for Primary schools to uphold the junior policy,”Ndlovu told VicFallsLive
” We are intending to work with National Association of Secondary School Heads and National Association of Primary School Heads and the community clubs to achieve this. “
Although the league intends to cover both females and males, Ndlovu said due to financial constraints, they will only start with males
“Funds permitting we will cover both males and females, but since we are starting at zero, we will begin with boys,”.
” Once the male league is up and running, then we bring in the girls. “
Beach football is basically a five-side match played on a sandy ground.
A beach soccer field is a level sandy area smaller than a regular association football pitch.
Since the game is played bare footed, the field is cleared of pebbles and seashells along with any other objects which could injure a player.
“The league which will have 16 teams is expected to kick start in January 2023, “Ndlovu revealed.
“Registration of teams will roll out after the initiative has been launched with community and the stakeholders being called to chip in and support the sport code to empower the youths.
“Soon after launch we are going to start registering the teams, so our wish is for the local community and stakeholders to buy the dream and support the sport code.”