adminChemhanza got their goals from Takura Chipembere and Lenon Bvochora, who scored a brace to make it three for his side who came in as the favourites.
They beat Churchill 4-3 on penalties in the semi-finals after the match ended in a 1-1 draw in regulation time on Saturday to book their place in the final.
Howard beat Sakubva 5-4 on penalties as well after a goalless draw.
Chipembere found the target 15 minutes into the game when he headed the ball into the back of the net from a cross.
Chemhanza’s second goal came in the 27th minute when they were awarded a penalty after Bvochora was brought down inside the box by Howard’s defender Willard Ngoche.
Bvochora went on to convert the penalty. He found the target again in the 42nd minute when he chipped the ball over Howard’s goalkeeper Lovemore Mutemaringa, who came on as a substitute in the 46th minute for first-choice goalkeeper, Noah Banda, who injured his thumb.
Howard got their consolation goal from Tafadzwa Nhundu in the 44th minute from a well taken free-kick just outside the box but his team had to settle for second position
For their efforts, Chemhanza walked away with US$6 500 while Howard pocketed US$5 000.
Chemhanza coach Never Mhandu was a happy man as his team was competing at the national finals for the first time.
“It means a lot, we worked a lot for this tournament. Last year we were beaten in the group stages.
“We are happy, the team played the passing game and I said to my guys let’s keep the ball which is the modern type of play,” said Mhandu.
His counterpart John Alifandika said he was satisfied with his charges’ performance despite losing the match.
Sakubva came third after beating Churchill 2-1 in the third and fourth play-off and they received US$3 000 while the latter got US$2 500.
Masvingo’s Chidyamakono defeated defending champions Vainona 2-0 to snatch the girls title.
Chidyamakono were last year’s runners-up and it seems they went back home and did their homework as they outclassed Vainona.
They got their goals through Tryffin Muzemba and Sesedzai Mutema in the first half.
Muzemba was the first to score in the 14th minute and Mutema doubled the scores in the 30th minute. Chidyamakono could have made it three but they missed a penalty awarded to them 21 minutes into the game.
Chidyamakono’s coach Nyakurai Nhamo said they have been having an intensive training programme as they were aiming for the best.
“We are very excited we made it. We were looking forward to a sweet revenge and it came. We talked to our players and they followed the instructions.
“We had a major intensive training programme after losing in the finals last year, it was a continuous process and to some extent the few experience players we had contributed to our victory,” said Nhamo.
Chidyamakono got US$3 000 and the trophy while Vainona pocketed US$2 500. Selonga and St Francis received US$2 000 and US$1 500 for finishing third and fourth respectively.
The two winning coaches in the boys and girls section – Mhandu and Nhamo – were voted the best coaches and they received US$200.
Washington Parira of Chemhanza and Priviledge Jeke were voted players of the tournament for the boys and girls categories respectively. They got US$100 each.
Dream Teams
Boys: Tawanda Munditi (Chemhanza), Noah Banda (Howard), Edwin Chiyangwa (Churchill) Raimos Dzapasi (Churchill), Mathias Chodewa (Churchill), Takudzwa Chipembere (Chemhanza), Learnmore Muyambo (Chemhanza), Innocent Chifamba (Mzingwane), Taruvinga Mhikuro (Ngezi Barracks), Bukhosi Sibanda (Gifford) Saidi Ebadi (Zvishavane), Benjamin Murehwa (Gaza), Elvis Tumba (Chemhanza), Daniel Chibisa (Churchill), Washington Parira (Chemhanza), Simbarashe Tandi (Mzingwane), Andile Tshuma (Gifford), Tafadzwa Nhundu(Howard), Takudzwa Kambwembwe (Sakubva),Lenon Bvochera (Chemhanza).
Girls: Tendai Chirimuta (Sodbury), Mitchell Mutasa (St Francis) Amunhleng Ndlovu (Selonga), Chipo Marondera (Mbare), Sibotshiwe Chifoshoro (St Francis), Gracious Mageza (Vainona), Primrose Mavhezha (Rukweza), Siphonkosi Gumede (Masotsha), Sharleen Mavuta (Chidyamakono), Barbara Manyanga (Matinunura), Nyengeterai Taruvona (Chidyamakono), Fungai Bvekwa (Vainona) Chipo Chikonora (Matinunura), Prudence Zurumba (Chidyamakono), Belinda Musharuki (Mbare), Priviledge Jeke (Chidyamakono), Vimbai Gwatiringa (Chidyamakono) Greater Bande (Vainona), Grace Kazembe (Sodbury)
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