CKN Foundation Tournament Gathers Momentum Ahead of Saturday Finals

Matebeleland Pulse Reporter

The CKN Foundation Tournament reaches its climax on Saturday, with finalists preparing for a decisive day at Indlovu Youth Club in Tshabalala following a competitive semi-final round on Tuesday.

The annual tournament, sponsored by CKN Foundation and Arch 360 Branding, is organised by Tshabalala Sizinda Old School in partnership with Indlovu Youth Club and has attracted 15 teams competing in the 8-13 age categories, including 11 boys’ teams and four girls’ teams.

The finals are scheduled to begin at 9am on Saturday, 29 August 2026.

The tournament forms part of the CKN Foundation’s efforts to support and empower young athletes in the hometown of former Sheffield Wednesday and Nottingham Forest player Cecil Nyoni, who leads the foundation.

For organisers, however, the tournament is not simply about determining winners. It is intended to provide children with a structured sporting environment while identifying and developing talent in communities where opportunities can be limited.

Tshabalala Sizinda Old School organising secretary Roy Phiri said the tournament was established with a wider social and sporting purpose.

“The objective is to get children off the streets, identify and develop talent in the underprivileged communities including Tshabalala, Sizinda, Nketa, Nkulumane and Mganwini,” said Phiri

He said He said grassroots football provides an important foundation for the development of players and the wider sporting system.

“Grassroots football is the core of any development in sport. This is where young players learn the fundamentals of teamwork, discipline and how to deal with both victory and defeat. It also teaches them the importance of showing up for their communities. Every professional player started at grassroots level, and if grassroots football dies, the talent pipeline dies with it,” said Phiri.

The tournament has already provided evidence of the competitive opportunities available to the young players, with the semi-finals producing penalty shoot-outs and closely contested matches.

In the Boys Under-10, Zebras Revolution eliminated defending champions River Plate 6-5 on penalties after the match ended goalless. Matric FC booked the other final place with a 1-0 victory over Asibambaneni.

The Under-12 final will see River Plate face Tshabalala Warriors. River Plate overcame Zebras 5-4 on penalties following a 1-1 draw, while Warriors defeated Flame Stars 4-2.

In the newly introduced Boys Under-13 category, Lamasia FC will face Tshabalala Warriors.

The Girls Under-13 final will see Asibambaneni FC take on Tshabalala Warriors, while the high-school final features Ihlathi High and Nkulumane High, with Nkulumane holding a 1-0 advantage from the opening leg.

Tshabalala Warriors will be one of the teams attracting attention on Saturday after reaching multiple finals.

Tshabalala Warriors and Queens Coach Nontokozo Annie Phiri said the progress of her teams reflected the work put in by the players and coaching staff.

“I feel extremely proud and excited that my teams have reached the final. It shows that the hard work, commitment and discipline from the players and the coaching team are paying off.”

The Warriors’ Under-12 side enters the final after its 4-2 semi-final victory over Flame Stars, with Raymond Moyo scoring twice. Moyo has also emerged as one of the tournament’s leading individual performers, having registered six goals and four assists.

Nontokozo Phiri, however, said reaching the final would count for little unless the players maintained their discipline when it matters most.

“We need to stay focused, disciplined and work together as a team. We have to believe in ourselves, follow our game plan and give our best from the first whistle until the end.”

For the organisers, the growing interest in the tournament has been another encouraging development. Roy Phiri said crowds had increased as the competition progressed and described the football witnessed so far as being of a high standard.

“The crowds have been growing at each stage and we have witnessed top-quality football,” he said.

He expects Saturday’s finals to provide a fitting conclusion to the competition and has encouraged teams, parents and supporters to attend.

“Teams are encouraged to bring their A game and allow kids to play. Parents are encouraged to come and support their kids.”

CKN Foundation founder Cecil Nyoni is also expected to be at Indlovu Youth Club on Saturday, where he will present the prizes to the winning teams, bringing the tournament’s focus on youth development and opportunity to a fitting conclusion in his hometown.

With the finalists now confirmed, Saturday will determine which teams leave Indlovu Youth Club as champions, while the tournament’s broader objective — creating a platform for young players to compete, develop and be identified — remains central to the CKN Foundation’s initiative.