By Elvis Dumba
Banket – In a heartwarming display of solidarity, four talented girls’ soccer teams converged in Banket over the weekend to showcase their soccer skills while standing in support of children affected by the ongoing conflict in Palestine.
Hosted by Banket Pride Football Club, a women’s second division league team, the event featured a soccer tournament and mini marathon, drawing four teams from the area. The event aimed to raise awareness about the impact of war on children’s lives and futures.
Natasha Kumbulani, captain of Banket Pride Football Club, emphasized the challenges young girls face in reaching their full potential, including drug and substance abuse, early marriages, and the exacerbating effects of war conflicts.
“We stand with children in Palestine whose futures are being disrupted by war,” Kumbulani said.
“We believe that every child deserves a safe and peaceful environment to grow and thrive.”
The girls soccer team participated in a soccer tournament and mini marathon as they displayed their skills.
Banket Pride Football Club chairperson Damaresi Zulu said the event was meant to challenge rest of the world to take action and protect interests of children who are having their future lives disrupted.
“We believe that young people are our future and they need all the support that they can to reach their full potential and these young girls understand that they cannot reach the full potential of their aspirations without the support of the communities they live in and we are also coming together to support our friends in Palestine who are no longer having the privilege of crafting their own future through education as the war is affecting them with some innocent children being killed and through this tournament which we hope will challenge authorities to stand up and help the children in Palestine ” she said
During the tournament themed” Score for Peace ” and to show their solidarity during the matches, scorers did not celebrate their goals with players wearing black armbands.
Team captain of Zim Young FC Rose Teiwa said by participating in the tournament she hoped the conflict in Palestine will end soon and allow her counterparts in Palestine to be free.
“This has been an emotional tournament knowing that at the moment I am kicking a ball and scoring which must be fun a child just like me might be losing her or his life and is crying just because some adults for their selfish reasons are falling to come together and create peace and resolve conflicts in a peaceful manner,” she said
Banket Pride Football Club said they intend to host another bigger event where they want to continue to challenge the world to stop the conflict against Palestine.
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