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Sikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
THE Ingwebu Breweries inter-schools provincial football finals reach their climax this morning with Bulawayo Metropolitan Province holding their inter-district boys and girls’ championships at Barbourfields Stadium outside grounds. Winners of today’s jamboree will join representatives from Matabeleland South and Matabeleland North whose provincials were held two weeks ago and last week.
At Barbourfields today, 12 schools, six boys’ and an equal number of girls’ teams, will battle it out for the right to be at Jotsholo Grounds – venue for the grand finals on August 1.
National Association of Primary School Heads Bulawayo chairman, Njabulo Bango, said it was all systems go and they were looking forward to a successful tournament with little or no controversy like the 2013 one.
“We are ready to roll, it has been a hectic week yes as we were also busy with our Naph ball games. We should be having 12 schools from our five districts,” said Bango.
Bulawayo’s five districts are Reigate, who will be represented by two boys’ teams as hosts, Mzilikazi, Bulawayo Central, Imbizo and Khami districts. Robert Tredgold will represent Bulawayo Central, Manondwane will stand in for Imbizo, Mazwi Primary School will carry Khami district’s hopes while Mzilikazi district will be represented by Mgoqo Primary School.
Reigate district will have Cowdray Park-based Tategulu as well as Lotshe Primary School from Makokoba. Unlike in the other two provinces, Bulawayo will have all the districts represented in girls’ soccer following the introduction of girls football by the principal sponsors of the tournament. Bulawayo Central will have two schools, Robert Tredgold and Henry Low, Imbizo will be represented by Mganwini, Khami will have Godlwayo while Gampu and Mzilikazi will represent Mzilikazi and Reigate districts respectively.
“The schools will be grouped into two groups of three teams each. We will follow the World Cup format where winners of the two pools will clash with runners up in the semi-finals with winners proceeding to the final,” said Bango.
Bulawayo provincial education director Dan Moyo is expected to be the guest of honour. Some education authorities, especially in Matabeleland North, have been shunning grassroots sporting events, a move that has manifested itself with the poor performance of the province at national gatherings.
Legendary juniors coach, Ali “Baba” Dube, is also expected to grace the event as part of his scouting mission for the Bulawayo Football Foundation Academy.
Online Reporter