All roads lead to Marondera High

Ellina Mhlanga Sports Reporter
MASHONALAND East Province head in charge of soccer Tarirai Maranike says the benefits that comes with winning the Copa Coca-Cola boys’ Under-16 and girls’ Under-17 football tournament should be an inspiration to the schools that will converge at Marondera High tomorrow for the provincial finals.
Maranike said they will stage the boys’ competition tomorrow while the girls will battle it out on July 11 at Nagle House.
The national finals are scheduled for July 18-20 in Harare with Churchill hosting the boys’ tournament and Roosevelt the girls’ competition.

Maranike said they are expecting 12 schools to take part in the boys’ section and are looking forward to an exciting tournament.
Mashonaland East will have three representatives in the national finals as defending champions Chemhanza High are guaranteed of a place in the finals. However, Maranike said they are not reading too much into the numbers but will have to assess their teams during the provincial finals.

“It’s unfortunate that soccer is not a question of having more teams for the competition. It’s based more on the skills and level of preparedness. So we can only talk about that after the provincial finals,” said Maranike.

Meanwhile, Harare province conducted their draw on Monday at a meeting held at Oriel Boys High with teams being divided into three groups in both the boys and girls section.

In the boys’ category, Group A will see Mabvuku taking on Prince Edward and Mufakose 1 while Group B is made up of Churchill, Glen Norah 2 High and Seke I High.
Group C consists of Oriel Boys’ High, Ellis Robins and Marlborough High.

Mbare High, Mabelreign Girls High and Highfield will lock horns in Group A in the girls’ category. Group B comprises Oriel Girls High, Vainona and Budiriro while Tafara 1, Girls High and Zengeza 2 High battle it out in group C.

The boys’ teams will be at Oriel Boys High while the girls’ group A and B will meet at Oriel Girls High and Group C will play at Lewisam Primary  School.
Head in charge soccer Harare province Ropafadzo Matemavi said they will be strict on age cheating and those found on the wrong side will pay a fine of US$500.