The Anglican diocese of Harare has launched the Anglican Diocese of Harare Soccer League (ADHASOL) and the Anglican Diocese of Harare Netball League (ADHANIEL) for both the males and females as a mechanism for curbing the drug and substance abuse by creating opportunities in the Anglican communion and society. With the country facing the high rate of drug and substance, the church has brought up its wings not only as a spiritual place to rest on, but also a sporting facility. Not only is sports giving youths what to do, but also making them come to church on weekly basis or weekly practices.
It is commonly said, “the idle mind is the devil’s workshop,” as the problems of drug and substance is also looked at as spiritual attacks in the church circles. ADHASOL and ADHANIEL has given youths more room to network with other youths from different parts of the Harare. The ADHASOL 14 team soccer league comprises of Highfield, Hatifield, Marlborough, Cathedral, Warren Park, Glen Norah, Waterfalls, Mufakose, Glen View, Budiriro, Kuwadzana, DZ Extension and Avondale.
Opportunities and talents have been discovered in the young men and women in seasons they started these leagues and tournaments. It has been a decade since the ADHASOL league was introduced and eight years since the ADHANIEL was launched in the Harare Anglican diocese. The ADHASOL has given birth to two players, Godknows Murwira and Albert Manenji who are now playing for the Premier Soccer League club (PSL), Scotland FC.
Godknows Murwira, Scotland FC right back, said football started as a friendly tournament played at church but now it has become a living. “Beyond football, networking has created bigger chances for me. Playing against Waterfalls parish, it starts as a friendly tournament but ends up being as an English Premier League (EPL) clash,” he said.
His passion for soccer brought him closer to church and also God as the Kambuzuma parish encouraged their soccer players to come to Sunday service thrice per month to be able to play for the church team. “We ended up seeing some coming to church and branching themselves into choirs and other church works because of their passion for soccer,” he said.
Albert Manenji, a Scotland player, said faith made him reach and achieve his dreams. “I remember playing the church soccer league, I had so many people telling me, I have so much potential. You can go places. Having so many words of advices from so many different people from different locations gave me the drive and the motivation to play. I had the mind to leave but the advices from the people made me go forward,” he said.
The Facebook post by Michael Ngonidzashe Gwasira said: “This is a great way to promote holistic growth within the church. By combining physical fitness with spiritual development, you are creating a powerful platform for young people to thrive. I applaud the sports ministry’s efforts to curb drug abuse and wish them continued blessings and success in their mission.”
Commenting on the launch, the Harare diocese, sports chaplain, Reverend Alwyne Nyamagodo, said the church is improvising for new sports in the sports ministry, in order to create better futures and opportunities for young men and women in the church.
“We do have the resources; we have the young people from the under-age groups. We have those who are still going to primary schools [junior church. We have the youths. We are thinking that if we can have any sports within our ranks, I am sure it can build up. Young people could be developed from young age up until they turn professional.”
He said what they are doing is giving options to young children apart from their academics. “I think they need another option which can be probably a sporting profession and we have seen that throughout the years, we have had other schools becoming academies for some soccer teams. As a church we do have the structures and schools. Sport is also another tool to grow the church. We have got so many young people who are roaming around in the streets. If we have a strong ministry, somewhere, somehow maybe we can lure them to come to church,” he said.
Currently the ADHASOL league is in motion with Hatifield on the top of the table with 44 points, played 17 matches. In the same run, Avondale is on the low bottom with 13 points, having also played 17 matches.
