Left to right: Stuart Pine, IT Manager at Stephenson Group; Chris Walker, founder of http://friendsofpakati.com ; Richard Musgrave Marketing Manager at Stephenson Group. Photo by Tom from Stephenson Group, taken at their premises in Horsforth near Leeds, West Yorkshire. Stuart can be seen holding one of the seven donated computers.
Football coach Mr Magabaza (seen below) has been discussing tactics and formations – I am told he is going for 4-4-2 – for the team in tomorrows District competitions, which are being held at Chemhondoro High Scool, a journey of around 25km.
Much more to follow at the weekend, including a full report and pictures from the tournament.
https://www.stephensonpersonalcare.com/ official website of the Stephenson Group based in Horsforth, near Leeds, in West Yorkshire
Back in January 2019, Stuart Pine (IT Manager, Stephenson Group) heard my interview on BBC Radio Humberside’s Sports Talk programme on his car radio, on his way home from work.
He got in contact with me by email, saying he thought the company could donate some computers to me for Pakati Schools, as they were in the process of upgrading their IT systems.
Today, Wednesday 10th July 2019, saw me visit the company and meet Stuart for the first time. I also met the company’s Marketing Manager, Richard Musgrave, and photographer Tom who took pictures for their forthcoming publicity.
Once I get the publicity material I will post another blog with full details.
The promise of some computers finally came to fruition today, and I have collected the 7 PCs , 3 monitors, 7 keyboards & box of cables, mice and a webcam. I now have them stored, and will be contacting someone about organising shipping to Zimbabwe in time for my forthcoming visit later this year.
As an extra bonus, Richard has donated several football shirts, which I am now told have a good market value – they are heading to Simon my friend the shirt collector and trader to raise more funds in the coming weeks for http://friendsofpakati.com Thank you Richard!
Many thanks on behalf of Pakati Schools to Stuart and Richard and to the Stephenson Group for the generous donation of IT equipment!!! I hope this might inspire others to follow suit…
Following a discussion with Mr Kahuni, the Sports Director at Pakati earlier today, I can confirm the details of the Boys Under-20s football District competitions.
Day/date: Friday 12th July
Venue: Chemhondoro High School (close to Musami Cross – near the junction of Harare/Mutoko and Musami/Maronera roads).
Teams competing: Chemhondoro High, Murewa High, St Pauls High, Nyahuni High, Chenhuta Secondary, Shumbahainyare Secondary, Rota Secondary and Pakati Secondary.
Mr Kahuni spoke earlier to Pakati Centre Back Fradreck Makuvaza, who said ” We are going there to win. We will fight to the last match. I am confident in our team”
Very best of luck to Pakati!!!
● First computers being donated by the Stephenson Group this Wednesday
● Publicity around the donation of computers – details afterwards including photos
● More updates on football shirts/memorabilia either for sale/fundraising or for the Schools at Pakati
● Update on fundraising http://gofundme.com/friends-of-pakati
● Updates to the website/blog
● New content including videos following upgrade to the website
● New directions for http://friendsofpakati.com as we look to expand help to the school
● Updates also promoted via http://twitter.com/friendsofpakati.com and http://facebook.com/Friends-of-pakati
● Will be asking for more help – ideas on fundraising, on publicity, on social media please!
Date: Friday 5th July 2019, Venue: Mabika Secondary school
Zonal Under-20s boys football competition – participants: Mabika, Dombodzvuku and Pakati Secondary Schools. Munamba did not participate.
All games played were played at 60 minutes each.
First game – Mabika v Pakati – result : victory for Pakati by 1-0, the scorer was Delight Chizema
In the second game of the tournament Mabika beat Dombodzvuku by 1-0
The third and final game saw Pakati take on Dombodzvuku. It ended as a 1-1 draw, with penalties deciding the winner. Delight Chizema again scored Pakati’s goal.
Pakati took the honours by winning the penalty shoot-out 5-3, the scorers being Frederick Makuvaza, Nigel Shamba, Christian Cheza, Large Rupiya and Tinashe Cheza. Keeper Panashe Zhuwao was on form, helping Pakati to victory.
Sports Director at Pakati – Mr Kahuni – gave his thoughts about their chances in the next round, the District competitions:
“We managed to win the Zonal competition, but as we go to the District, the competition will be more tense. The team played well but they need to improve in defence. Our keeper and the defenders should communicate well and pass accurately to the next player”.
More details of the District level games to follow.
Well done to Pakati for winning the Zonal competition!!!
•Sports Update
Tomorrow (Friday 5th July) sees the boys Under-20s football team compete at nearby Mabika Secondary school in the Zonal competition. They are hoping to progress to the District competition, then maybe the Provincials, in the following weeks.
This just in from Mr Kahuni, Sports Director: “The Head Mr Chifaka met with the boys today and encouraged them to fight hard to win the games and have team spirit.”
•Computers Update
Fantastic news! This coming week I am invited to the Stephenson Group’s offices just outside Leeds. I will finally be meeting Stuart, the IT Department Manager, who heard one of my radio interviews back in January this year. He contacted me via email friendsofpakati@gmail.com offering some IT equipment as the company were buying in new computers.
I am also meeting Richard, their Marketing Manager. He is organising the publicity, which should help both the company, and friendsofpakati.com as they hand over their generous donation to Pakati schools.
It is possible this may be the start of a very good relationship between the Stephenson Group and Pakati.
•Health Update
Thanks to Israel Maliki, local Councillor for Murewa Ward 14 which includes the Pakati area, for this update on the figures regarding the recent Health Event held at Pakati Secondary school.
The event was done by PSI (Population Services International) and the Zimbabwe Ministry of Health, attended by the local MP Jonah Sewera and Guest of Honour, Mr Munemo from the District Education Office.
The figures given were 85 for circumcision, 42 for cervical cancer screening and 103 for HIV Testing services.
This Friday, 5th July, sees Pakati Secondary school boys under-20s football team visit near-neighbours Mabika, hosts of the zonal competition. As with the girls recently, the competition is due to be between Mabika, Munamba, Dombodzvuku and Pakati Secondary schools.
Pakati have been in training for some time, and have a good record in recent years. Earlier today (Tuesday 2nd July) they played some friendly games against another local school, Chanetsa Secondary. In the pictures below, Chanetsa are playing in green.
Pakati won the first of two games 2-0, then in a second game of 20 minutes each way also won, this time by 2-1.
Pakati players are feeling very confident, and in discussions with Sports Director Mr Kahuni, captain Tinashe Cheza predicted the following scores for Friday:
Pakati 1-0 Dombodzvuku
Pakati 2-0 Munamba
Pakati 2-0 Mabika
Lets hope he is right!
Coach Mr Magabaza confirmed he is trying to perfect the strike force to help Pakati win by more goals. Lets hope he is successful too!
Many thanks to Mr Kahuni, teacher at Pakati Secondary school, for the information provided below.
“The event moved well yesterday, we had a huge turnout from the community and surrounding schools. Guest of Hounor was Mr Munemo from the District Education Office. Other people who also attended the gathering are Councillor Maliki and Honourable Member of Parliament, Mr Jonah Sewera.
Pakati secondary school students perfomed a drama play, and won a soccer ball from the Ministry of Health. Abigal Chakanetsa, a student from Pakati Secondary who is also a junior councillor representing schools in ward 14, presented a speach and was given a gift of 10 dollars by the Member of Parliament.
Schools that attend were Pakati Secondary and Primary, Gezi Primary, Chanetsa Secondary and Primary, Zhakata Primary and Hokodzi Primary
It was all about men and women/boys and girls sexual health, including HIV testing, male circumsion and female cervical cancer screening for free.
A total of 75 students were circumcised 15 boys from Pakati Secondary, 25 from Pakati Primary and the rest from other schools present. A total number of 35 females had gone through screening process by 3pm, but others were still queueing and waiting at that time.
A total number of about 300 villagers attend the gathering. Every one present received food. Ministry of health provided meat (cattle which was bought from the community) and all other staff who were involved in the catering. There was local music playing, and it ecouraged and boosted confidence in everyone’s participation. A member from the Ministry of Health adressing the gathering thanked everyone present, including the Pakati Secondary staff for organising such a wonderful and successful event. He was impressed with the gathering and promissed to pay tribute to the school this coming week on Thursday.
Participation included both villagers and school children but most parents were there to accompany their children. “
Deputy Head Mrs Pindura also had this to say about womens participation at the event:
“We had to wake up at 4am to start the fire and cutting the meat, as a cow was slaughtered and it was quite a task for us.
The free food certainly worked, as the women did come and I am happy they came in their numbers for cervical cancer screening and HIV testing .”
Today I have been in touch with some of the teachers at Pakati Secondary School, along with some members of the supporting local community – from the parents, former students & senior teachers.
Tomorrow, Friday 28th June, all people from the local community are invited to attend an important health-related event. Hosted by Pakati Secondady School it is being put on by the Zimbabwe Ministry of Health.
It is focusing on key topics for people of all ages – such as sexual health for both men and women, and cervical cancer screening for women, among several other issues.
The event is to start at 10am, and will last until all who wish to attend have been seen. To encourage participation from the community at least one cow is to be slaughtered to provide food, plus there will be a band playing local music too.
