Okocha, Kanu date Zim football legends

Kanu and Okocha

HARARE – The Zimbabwe Football Legends Association in partnership with Ica Sports Consultancy are set to lure yesteryear African greats for a fundraising gala to be hosted  in Zvishavane and Harare next month.

The three-day fundraising event, according to the organisers, will see the local legends battling it out with some of the yesteryear African stars such as Nigeria’s Austin “Jay Jay” Okocha and Nwanko Kanu, Doctor Khumalo and Lucas Radebe of South Africa and Angola’s Fabrice Akwa among a galaxy of other former stars.

Zimbabwe, on the other hand, would parade players such as Peter Ndlovu, Stewart Murisa, Kaitano Tembo and Charles Yohane among others.

The event is not limited to the male legends alone as the women will also lock horns with the Zambian women legends while Mufulira Wanderers, one of Zambia’s most successful teams, will square off with local Premiership teams, FC Platinum and CAPS United.

The first part is set for Mandava in Zvishavane with the women’s encounter breaking the ice followed by FC Platinum against Mufulira Wanderers before the main match featuring African legends against the Zimbabwe legends.

Zimbabwe Football Legends Association chairman Stanford “Stix” Mutizwa said he was looking forward to a successful tournament, considering the coming on board of Ica Sports.

“We are happy to work with Ica Sports Consultancy in this initiative and it is our hope that the event will be a success and will help some of our legends.

“Most of our members are finding it difficult to make ends meet and such an initiative will transform their lives,” Mutizwa told reporters.

Ica Sports Consultancy director Julius Chakupehwa said the initiative seeks to transform the lives of former football players after they would have hung their boots.

“This tournament was born out of the realisation that retired veteran players are unsung heroes and their achievements should be celebrated as they contributed a lot to the football fraternity.

“There’s a sad trend where former players only become players instead of administrators and if we put our heads together they can achieve that feat,” Chakupehwa said.

“We have already received written confirmation.”

After Zvishavane, all the teams will proceed to the capital with the programme remaining the same with the only change being CAPS United replacing Platinum against Mufulira Wanderers. Daily News