Lim wins 1st police tourney
THE Limpopo police sports teams were the winners of the inaugural Police Sports Tournament against Zimbabwe's police
LIMPOPO – THE Limpopo police sports teams were the winners of the inaugural Police Sports Tournament against Zimbabwe’s police, but if what Com Goodwill Musariri said was anything to go by, the Limpopo teams would not know what hit them when they visited Zimbabwe next year.
SAPS Limpopo netball masters walloped their Zimbabwean counterparts 27-3, but the Zimbabwean netball team gave the host a tough time and only fell short by two points, losing the game 39-37.
There was still no luck for the Zimbabwean police on the volleyball courts as well.
Their men’s volleyball team lost 2-1, whereas the visiting women settled for a 2-0 defeat.
Zimbabwe showed they were no pushovers on the field of play when their masters’ soccer team beat SAPS Limpopo 2-0. They sealed their dominance when their female soccer team won 2-0, courtesy of Thandie Mthethwa and Beater Mukono.
The last game of the day was a battle between Limpopo and Zimbabwe’s senior soccer teams and it was sweet revenge for Limpopo who won the game 2-0.
Musariri said the event solidified and consolidated the common aspirations and vision for peace and stability in the arc of Southern Africa.
“This event undoubtedly invoked the spirit of team work, tolerance and friendship, not only to the participants, but to all police officials in our provinces and beyond.
“Other than making us physically and mentally strong, these games symbolised our undying commitment and resolve to improve bilateral relations. The interface was meant to consolidate the already existing cordial relations between Limpopo and Masvingo/Matebeleland south provinces,” Musariri said.
He jokingly said the teams gave away their games to honour instructions from the Limpopo MEC for transport, safety and liaison, Mapula Mokaba-Phukwana.
“The instruction from the MEC was that we must not humiliate our hosts, but when we host our colleagues next year the instruction would have expired,” Musariri joked.
Deputy provincial police commissioner, Maj Gen Lesiba Mashilo, said the tournament strengthened the working relationship between the Limpopo and Zimbabwe police.
“We are responsible for policing in the Beit Bridge border post and this tournament helped us discuss strategies and exchange good practices for the benefit of the communities we serve,” said Mashilo.
Dignitaries from Zimbabwe included assistant commissioner Hosea Mukombero and chief superintendent Richard Basera.
