Shelly Guni
The Marvellous Nakamba Foundation says its main focus is to transform the lives of youths through education and sport.
This was said by the foundation’s Chief Executive Officer Zodzwa Ntoppera at a function to launch both the foundation and its Under 17 invitational tournament in Harare, on Thursday night.
English Premier League side Aston Villa midfielder, Marvellous Nakamba, established the foundation in 2019 as a way of giving back to the community.
And indeed he has been a positive influence in the community, with the Nakamba Foundation currently paying school fees for over a thousand pupils.
The foundation will host the inaugural Marvellous Nakamba Invitation Under 17 tournament at White City Stadium in Bulawayo on June 25 and 26.
Highlanders, Dynamos, Njube Spurs, Hwange Dynamo, Albun Academy, Bulawayo City, Ajax Hot Spurs and Chicken Inn are set to take part in the tournament, which will be graced by Nakamba himself.
“The vision of the foundation is to transform the lives of young people through providing educational and sporting opportunities. The two focus areas of the foundation are therefore education and sport,” Ntoppera said.
She said one of the foundation’s objectives was to use sport as a tool to address different social challenges faced by youth such as drug abuse, substance abuse, idleness and sexual abuse.
Sport is used as a tool for education, development and peace, can promote cooperation, solidarity, tolerance, understanding, social inclusion and health at the local, national and international levels.
“The foundation believes sport can be used to inculcate life skills and values that can mould young people into better citizens for our country.
“The foundation provides educational opportunities for children in disadvantaged communities in the country through paying school and examination fees. We believe education is a fundamental right of every child,” she said.
Nakamba foundation chairperson Antony Nakamba, who is father to Marvellous said “the foundation was built on the values of sport that Marvellous had shared with all Zimbabweans.
He went on to urge the corporate sector and partners to join hands with Marvellous Nakamba Foundation to positively impact young people.
“We believe together we can tackle challenges facing young people. Allow me in advance therefore to thank those corporate and partners who are going to come on board and be part of this Marvellous Nakamba Foundation initiative.”
