By Elishamai A Ziumbwa
The inaugural Garrett Morgan Soccer Festival is set to take place tomorrow at Glamis Arena grounds in Harare.
The event is a mixed seven-sided gender football festival with each team minimum of two men and two women at all times so as to encourage inclusion, teamwork and healthy competition in a relaxed but spirited environment.
In an interview with 263chat.com the event director, Tapiwa Taodzera said festival is a celebration of the country’s culture.
“The Garrett Morgan Soccer Fest is a vibrant celebration of Zimbabwean culture and diversity through the unifying power of football. We are hosting a maximum of 16 senior teams this year, with a winner-takes-all prize of US$1,000.
“By introducing mixed 7-a-side teams, we aim to create a safe, inclusive, and social space where men and women can compete side-by-side, celebrate their differences and foster community through shared experiences on the field,” said Taodzera
He said around the pitch, festival-goers can expect all-day entertainment from some of Harare’s top DJs including DJ Tannie Swiss, Matz Music, DJ Andile Brown and Ace FRVR, as well as good vibes.
He said while male and female competitions are typically separated, they believe that mixed-gender formats much like mixed doubles in tennis offer both entertainment and equality.
“Sport is a powerful platform for promoting inclusion. This is our inaugural edition, and we’re excited to bring the concept to life as we build a vibrant, inclusive community around the event. The inspiration stems from a fond memory of an annual mixed-gender 7-a-side tournament hosted by Christian Brothers College in Bulawayo during the late ’90s,” he said.
Taodzera said this was more than a football event, it will bring people together through music and sport as a community.
The ultimate dream of this event, Taodzera said is to build a national platform where Zimbabwean men and women and boys and girls come together in a vibrant, inclusive environment to enjoy football, music, food, and community.
The event entry fee is US$5 for adults and US$2 for children and for registered players and coaches its free of charge.
