A special memorial football tournament will take place this month in honour of 13-year-old Delvin Musakwa, a talented young footballer whose tragic death in the Exeter canal has deeply impacted the local football community.
The Delvin Memorial Cup 2025 will be held on Wednesday, June 25 at Exeter City Football Club’s Cliff Hill Training Ground, featuring a three-way tournament between Exeter Regional Talent Centre, Exeter City FC Academy, and Delvin’s own club, Heavitree Youth FC.
The tournament is intended as a tribute to Delvin’s passion for football and the impact he made on teammates, coaches, and the wider community. Each team will play each other once, with the top two progressing to a final. The winning team will be presented with the cup by Delvin’s mother, Cecelia Chipiri.
Arran Pugh, Exeter City Academy director, said: “This tragic event was a huge shock to us all. Delvin was a bright and committed young player for Heavitree FC and he was friends with a number of our Academy players. This memorial cup gives us all a chance to come together in his memory and celebrate one of the things he loved – playing football.”
The event also aims to raise awareness of water safety. Following the incident, coaches at Exeter City’s Academy issued a reminder to players and families about the risks associated with open water and shared guidance from the Royal Life Saving Society’s summer safety campaign.
The tournament is open to all. It takes place on Wednesday, June 25 at Exeter City Football Club’s Cliff Hill Training Ground, kicking off at 6.30pm.
A fundraiser is being ran to raise money to support Delvin's family, you can donate here.