Former Dynamos vice-chairman Vincent Chawonza through his OpenGold Holdings Group has partnered the novel National Foods School of Excellency, a junior football development initiative which focuses on young girls.
Chawonza was the guest of honour at the National Foods School of Excellency training camp which concluded at Selborne Routledge Primary School yesterday.
A total of 44 girls ranging from 12-19 years drawing from across the country graduated from the camp.
The event was also attended by co-patron of the initiative Skills Audit minister Paul Mavima. The other patron, Emily Jesaya could not attend the closing ceremony due to other commitments.
Chawonza said Mavima had already made the decision for him to partner the initiative.
" I think the honourable minister has already made the decision for me in terms of coming to sponsor this event. "So starting next year we are going to come on board to sponsor the event. we are going take care of everything that the title sponsors National Foods are not covering. Never mind the naming rights we are not worried about that because we are not doing this for glory," Chawonza said.
"My heart bleeds for the girl child especially in football because she is always marginalised. They are not taken seriously but I am a sponsor in the Heart League which is top flight football competition for women. So I am someone who is fond of giving assistance to the girl child.
"I am happy about what this initiative is doing for the girl child in terms of career guidance and education. This initiative I think should be in other areas in Zimbabwe because if the programme lasts for three weeks, it then takes our children off the streets," he said.
The National Foods School of Excellency was started by the Northern Region Women Soccer League three years ago.
It is a project which has benefited the country as a whole having produced players who have gone on to play for the age group teams and the Mighty Warriors.
In his speech Professor Mavima paid tribute to the title sponsors National Foods who have been sponsoring the event to make a difference in the girl child's life.
"I want to express my gratitude to National Foods for sponsoring this event. We need to do more and more for the girl child and we hope this relationship continues," he said.
Zifa referees committee chairperson Norman Matemera graced the event as well as Northern Region Women Soccer League chairperson Peter Gonyora among others.
