Deputy Minister Jesaya Launches Juru Sports Tournament

Deputy Minister of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture, Honourable Emily Jesaya, on Tuesday launched a large-scale community sports tournament at the Juru Council Offices, declaring sport a “powerful tool for social transformation” as she unveiled a prize pot of thousands of dollars to lure youth away from drug abuse.

Hon. Jesaya said the tournament is a strategic platform for fighting drug and substance abuse while identifying and nurturing young talent at grassroots level.

“Sport is a powerful tool for social transformation. As a government, we are deliberate about taking sport to every ward so that no young person is left behind. Let this tournament be drug-free, disciplined, and a showcase of the talent Goromonzi has,” she said.

The launch took place on the morning of Tuesday, 14 April 2026, at the Juru Council Offices in Goromonzi District.
Dozens of local people gathered as the deputy minister arrived to officially open the multi-discipline tournament.

Cde Jesaya first addressed the crowd, outlining the tournament’s objectives as a strategic platform for fighting drug and substance abuse while identifying and nurturing young talent at the grassroots level.

She then performed a ceremonial kick-off for the soccer matches and a netball toss to mark the official start of the tournament.

Hon Jesaya proceeded to announce the tournament’s scope and prize structure.

The competition will feature three disciplines, men’s soccer, women’s netball and girls’ soccer. Dozens of teams have already registered from all four Goromonzi districts – Ruwa, Goromonzi North, Goromonzi South and Goromonzi West.

In each discipline, winners will receive USD 2 000 and a trophy. Second-place teams will get USD1 000, while the last-placed team in each discipline will receive USD 500.

All teams reaching the quarter-finals will be given soccer kits. Additionally, every person who attended the launch received 10 USD for food.

Individual awards were also unveiled: the best player in soccer, netball, and girls’ soccer will each receive USD 2000, the first runner-up USD 1000, and the second runner-up USD 500. Soccer balls will be given to everyone who attended the event.

The launch was attended by the ZIFA chairman; the netball chairperson, the chairperson for Sport and Recreation, all Mashonaland East provincial chairpersons for the three disciplines, ZANU PF district chairpersons and DCC members, team managers and coaches for soccer and netball from across all Goromonzi constituency districts, and dozens of local residents.

Matches will be played on weekends at designated community grounds across the district, with finals slated for late May 2026.