Bosso juniors booted out

Mzingaye Sibanda, Sports Reporter
HIGHLANDERS FC juniors, the defending champions of the Benjani Mwaruwari Under-16 soccer tournament, have been booted out of the tournament after losing 3-4 to Emakhandeni Pirates on Thursday.The match ended goalless in regulation time of the preliminary rounds played on Thursday.

Ajax Hotspurs, Emakhandeni, Bantu Rovers, Santos, LMC Academy, Luveve Juniors, Mpumelelo, Chicken Inn and Gwabalanda are through to the third round.

All the clubs are affiliated to the Bulawayo Province Junior Soccer League.

Only six teams from the division will proceed to the finals of the junior soccer festival to be held at White City later this month.
Two secondary schools will be invited to compete to bring the number to eight teams that would be participating in the Under-16 extravaganza sponsored by the former national team skipper.

Highlanders’ loss comes just two weeks after losing against Bantu Rovers on penalties in the final of the Emakhandeni Legends tournament.

Bantu Rovers thrashed the Sakheleni Nxumalo-coached Toronto 6-0 to proceed to the next round while Chicken Inn won 3-0 against newcomers Sabona.

Gwabalanda and Ajax Hot Spurs walked over their opponents to proceed to the next round after EM Sports pulled out while Lee Mangena’s Street Set failed to show up for their home tie.

Zifa Bulawayo board member Mkhululi Mthunzi said they are grateful to Mwaruwari for giving the youngsters a stage to showcase their talent.

“Teams are playing preliminary rounds so far, only six teams from the junior league will go through to the finals at White City.
“Thanks to Benjani, the tournament keeps getting better and better every time, we are grateful that he keeps giving these young boys a platform to market themselves and showcase their talent,” he said.

Event organiser Mkhuphali Masuku said all is set for the tournament.

“Everything is in order we are just waiting for the final eight teams that will be competing at White City Stadium to be confirmed. The finals will be held during the last weekend of the month,” he said.