By Staff reporter
A Zimbabwean based in the diaspora, Farai. Chishaka Mutsunguma of Chishaka village in Chief Svosve’s village in Hwedza is championing sport tourism locally and abroad.
The Zimbabwean who resides in the United Kingdom says he has combined his passion for sport through initiating a soccer-tourism tournament he hopes will turn into an annual event.
He is championing the global initiative of Diaspora engagement in community projects through sport and Development projects.
At a recent handover of a borehole that coincided with a visit by United Kingdom based Zimbabwean junior team in his rural school in Hwedza, the businessman said he had taken it to be his business to serve his own community as this benefited his community of origin and improved conditions in his area.
The donations have become a constant routine by this native of Hwedza based in the diaspora at the school. He has built a tennis court and toilet as a way of continuously supporting his community.
With culture being rooted in the old adage charity begins at home, his efforts have as such blossomed to international reach through the inaugural soccer tournament.
The philanthropist is currently on tour in Zimbabwe with an Under 23 Soccer Team Zimbabwe Diaspora that he started with Marshall Gore following the London Olympics.
“The idea grew from the contributions we had rendered to the Zimbabwean London Olympics team. We had to source accommodation and other amenities for the team and after the event we decided to continue,” Mr. Mutsunguma said.
The team comprises players from Zimbabwe including children of former sporting greats like Vitalis ‘Captain’ Takawira who played for Newcastle and former cricketer Dion Ebrahim’s son Charles.
The tour will see the team playing in all the country’s biggest venues having played a local side they drew with at the National Sports Stadium and another game against Yadah this weekend.
The team has also played Chapungu in Gweru who they commended for coordinating the team’s hosting with great professionalism despite loosing 1 -0.
The organiser feels the tourney is a gateway for young talents to be identified as well as curbing drug abuse after these young footballers are released from academies.
Mutsunguma feels the dream he shares with other Zimbabweans in the diaspora has the potential to lure tourists and has boosted their social media response.
“We have been receiving a lot of traffic on our Facebook page during this tour and have successfully negotiated are travelling of 6 tourists to Zimbabwe.
“Former football legend Kennedy Chihuri, a Champions league playing former Sparta Prague player also felt that football has a role in Marketing Zimbabwe and as former footballers we are ever ready to give a positive Zimbabwean image”
The tournament was organised by ZTA as part of it’s brand Zimbabwe campaign with Partnership from the diaspora company UKChiken.