adminTakudzwa Chitsiga Sports Reporter
CHEMHANZA High School are confident of becoming the first team to have their name etched on the Freddy Mkwesha Under-17 soccer tournament trophy when they square off against hosts Acturus in the inaugural final this weekend.
The Hwedza-based school have been regular campaigners in most of the schools competitions including the Copa-Coca Cola for which they have been a dominant force.
But with Acturus seeking to use home advantage, it promises to be an explosive encounter in the game which has been moved from Saturday to Sunday.
The final will be preceded by a third-place play-off between St Dominics Nora and Gumbonzvanda.
There is no doubt, however, that the focus is on favourites Chemanza to add the Freddy Mkwesha silverware in their trophy cabinet.
Chemhanza coach Never Mhandu yesterday said although they were affected by the current school exams, they are prepared for the final.
“I am happy with the tournament and as we are fielding our developmental team, we are looking forward to a good game. We usually play for a few minutes but this final will be over 90 minutes and it gives us time to asses ourselves.
“Our opponents Arcturus will be playing at home and it will be difficult for us to beat them in their own backyard,” said Mhandu.
The Freddy Mkwesha soccer tournament qualifiers had 15 teams drawn from Mashonaland East and Mashonaland Central taking part in the preliminary rounds before Chemhanza and Acturus emerged the finalists.
On their way to the final Acturus beat St Dominics Nora 7-5 on penalty shoot-out after a goalless draw in regulation time while Chemhanza also got the better of Gumbonzvanda through a penalty lottery.
The tournament is aimed at honouring legendary former Dynamos and CAPS United player Mkwesha whose illustrious career saw him play in Portugal in the 1960s.
Mkwesha made history by becoming the first black Zimbabwean soccer player to ply his trade overseas and with him hailing from Goromonzi, the organisers said they felt they should hold a tournament in his honour was a noble idea.
Aaron Muchatuta, the tournament’s organising committee member, said they are looking at ways of promoting soccer to schools in the rural areas.
“As a way of promoting rural children through sport, we felt it is good to have such a tournament and it is going to be an annual event which we seek to spread throughout the country.
“Our intention is to see the event become a national tournament for the Under-17 boys ” said Muchatuta.
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