Victoria Falls embraces tug-of-war as a new tourism draw

VICTORIA Falls has effectively established a tug-of-war club as the city continues to embrace sport as a tourism draw card.

Over the years soccer has been the most visible sport, albeit in the lower-tier leagues, and lately, rugby has become a significant activity.

Netball, tennis, basketball and volleyball are also there but remain less significant.

A few months ago the city established the Victoria Falls Amputees Football Club as amputees sport filtered into Victoria Falls. Recently the city hosted the 10th edition of the All Africa Tug of War Championship in which three countries participated. Twenty teams drawn from across Zimbabwe also participated.

It was the absence of a team from Victoria Falls despite being the hosts that triggered some individuals to approach the organisers and ask if it was possible to have a local team.

After getting the nod, Friderick Mafira, also coordinator of Amputees football coordinated residents and came up with a team that participated in the same tournament marking the start of tug-of-war sport.

“We have started a tug-of-war team here in Victoria Falls. The idea came up when I was hosting the Mutare Tug of War team for the recent championship. I got to know about the sport and realised we were left behind as Victoria Falls.

“I then asked the coordinators if we were allowed to also participate and when they gave the nod I sought permission from the local authority after which I started contacting some individuals I knew could have an interest,” said Mafira.

He said he even went into the street randomly approaching residents and the response was positive.

He also approached a local gym asking for its members to become team members. “We managed to set up a team with nine males and nine females for the tournament. So we did not participate in the singles team category but in the mixed match. We had two teams and they played against each other in the first round meaning one had to be knocked out. The other team lost in the second round but what is important is that a seed had been sown,” he said.

“It was our first time but we got support. The Mutare team gave us shoes and Victoria Falls Tug Rugby and Victoria Falls Amputees Football Club gave us a kit each. Many other sponsors chipped in with refreshments.

“So there is interest as we are getting calls and some are helping with recruitment. We want to approach the Zimbabwe National Army, police, prisons, and council and security companies so we have clubs in all those organisations as we want to create a legacy.”

Mafira said the Hwange Tug of War had pledged to assist with coaching. He said the idea was to form a league for Victoria Falls, Hwange and Livingstone, Zambia clubs.

Acting Zimbabwe Tug of War Federation president Lazarus Nkomo efforts are being made to introduce the sport to communities and the Sports and Recreation Commission has been engaged to introduce the sport in schools.

Lazarus Nkomo

“That’s a good initiative. Wherever we go we want to make an impact and tell people that there is such a sport. We have left an impact in Victoria Falls and people now understand and appreciate the game. So we said community form your clubs and refer to us for advice and rules. We will come in and even send coaches,” he said. Nkomo said Tug of War is a family game that can be played even in schools.

Source: https://www.chronicle.co.zw/victoria-falls-embraces-tug-of-war-as-a-new-tourism-draw/