ONE SATURDAY AT VIMBAI By Meluleki Ncube First a disclaimer. The story you are about to read, sorry, already reading, is not about MWOS FC. That would be a treasonous lack of patriotism in my hood, Norton. Something I call Nortriotism. This is about the local authority, Norton Town Council (NTC), who, as if there is need to mention, are in a very good relationship with MWOS FC. That relationship has borne the marvelous rehabilitation of Ngoni Stadium into a real stadium, MWOS Ngoni Stadium. A venue that can now attract to its VVIP pavillion high-end soccer enthusiasts like former ZIFA president Dr Philip Chiyangwa, among others. While MWOS must be commended for doing so much, for no return, for the community's benefit, the same can not be said of the NTC, who are doing so little for the same community, their own ratepayers. This weekend, MWOS FC are away for a routine win at Triangle United. And as usual, and normal for any property owner, they have locked up MWOS Ngoni Stadium. Why not, if that is as per the confidential agreement with the NTC? As the saying goes, the big cat of Norton football being away, mice are playing. Problem is, they are playing on very dangerous grounds. The buck of inadequate soccer facilities, in a community that has already proven to be one of Zimbabwe's most "soccered", ultimately stops with the NTC! Sorry for using "inadequate", because this story is not about their number, but their quality. Admittedly, this Vimbai High School pitch, on whose side I am writing from as I watch Norton Academy Trust versus Bright Stars Soccer Academy, can handle all the matches scheduled for here today. That is, four age-group matches of the Mashonaland West Junior Soccer League, a match of the Mashonaland West Women's Football League (in case Kadona Queens show up for a clash agaist Bright Stars), and finally, a ZIFA Mashonaland West Division 2B thriller between Norton Community FC and Triple C FC. Even combined, they can never be too heavy for the Vimbai High pitch. By the way, Vimbai is a council-run school. Having designated it for unimportant or less-important soccer matches like these, the NTC could have done more to make the pitch friendly to the well-being of these young players. The ones I am watching are most likely MWOS FC fans, aspiring to one day don the now-famous Punters stripe. But some potentials might not make it, through serious injury. The NTC needs to do serious work on the Vimbai High School pitch, particularly a part of it close to where I am standing. Just grading it, and using gravel to fill some depressions, is not enough. In fact, it is dangerous for players and their fledging careers. This is a soccer pitch, Norton's main alternative venue, and not a road in the leafy Knowe suburb. Or middle-class Marshlands. As I finish writing, proceedings on the pitch are also rounding off. And what a display we have just watched from Norton Academy Trust U-15! They have made football look so simple, yet also making it difficult for Bright Stars U-15. A well-deserved 3-1 victory for them. For Bright Stars, they will hope for a better result in the U17s match, up next. Meanwhile, we are all off to support MWOS FC in the Lowveld tomorrow, after these matches. Toudzaudzana.