Deputy Minister of Sport Emily Jesaya has hailed the Young and Great Anti-Drug and Substance Abuse Under-20 football tournament, stating that it reinforces the government's efforts in combating this critical issue.
The tournament, held over the weekend in the capital, showcased the talents of 16 teams – eight male and eight female – with Seke High 1 and Mabvuku High emerging as champions in the boys' and girls' categories, respectively.
Seke High's boys' team triumphed over Dzivarasekwa 2 High in the final, while Mabvuku High's girls' team defeated Glenorah 2 High.
After the event, Jesaya, who was the guest of honour, expressed her appreciation for the initiative, highlighting its role in supporting governmental strategies against drug abuse, particularly among young people.
"The issue of drug and substance abuse has truly become a national crisis, and His Excellency President Emmerson Mnangagwa has emphasized the need for a whole-of-society approach to address it. Our ministry focuses on the demand reduction pillar,” Jesaya stated.
“The strategies and initiatives we've implemented aim to partner with organizations such as Young and Great."
"We collaborate with organizations like this to provide engaging activities for our youth, ensuring they have meaningful alternatives that reduce the likelihood of their involvement in drug and substance abuse. This initiative that we witnessed here today is a step in the right direction and complements the strategies we are implementing as the Ministry of Sports, Recreation, Arts, and Culture,” she added.
Jesaya also took the opportunity to highlight the importance of Sport Minister Kirsty Coventry's recent election as the President of the International Olympic Committee, noting that her leadership could further inspire and mobilize efforts to engage young people in positive activities.
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"And that also gives me the opportunity to speak about my minister, the Minister of Sports, Recreation,Arts and Culture, Honourable Kirsty Coventry, who we have just made history. Elected the first female president of the IOC, the first African. We are inspired and that shows that the sky is the limit. So we're so happy and we say congratulations to her and we're looking forward to the positive to the positive impact that she's going to have. She's going to bring to the sporting environment, not just in Zimbabwe, not just in Africa, but the global stage," she said.
Tanaka Mashamhanda, the founder of Young and Great, pledged to continue organizing the event.
"This tournament is more than just a sporting event; it is a movement. A movement to raise awareness about the devastating impact of drugs and substances on our youth. A movement to inspire young people to rise above their circumstances and embrace their greatness. And a movement to unite communities in the fight against a crisis that threatens the future of our nation," said Mashamhanda.
He also noted the tournament's growth.
"The tournament started off with boys only last year but this year we had 38 girls’ schools participating. This growth is a testament to the power of collaboration and the shared belief that our youth deserve a brighter, drug-free future and we will continue to host and expand this tournament. We would also want to thank all partners who have come on board in supporting the initiative and we strongly believe that with the continued support, we can grow the tournament into a national event," Mashamhanda said.
The tournament commenced in February with district-level competitions, where numerous schools from Harare competed for the 16 slots in the finals.
The event is a joint effort between the National Association of School Heads (NASH) and Young and Great, with Mashwede Holdings as the principal sponsor.
