Chronicle Editor
Ricky Zililo in Bindura
COPA Coca-Cola defending girls champions Chidyamakono of Masvingo are on course to claim a fifth consecutive title as they stormed into the final of the country’s premier schools’ tournament here yesterday. Chidyamakono will face Mamunyadza of Manicaland in the final which will be played at Trojan Stadium today. They needed a penalty shootout against fellow Masvingo representatives Mwenezi who they beat 2-1 in the lottery. The semi-final clash between the two sides had ended 0-0 after regulation time. Portia Hungwe and Loreen Mandiki scored the two penalties for Chidyamakono. An elated
Chidyamakono gaffer Yeukai Chiruvu is confident that her charges will prevail over Mamunyadza who they beat 1-0 in the group stage.
“I’m very happy and thankful to God for guiding us through to the final. The games were really competitive and we’re now looking forward to winning the final. What we just have to do is give our best fight and I know that if we fight the way we did today we will win this tournament,” said Chiruvu. On their way to the final Chidyamakono came first in Group B which had Mamunyadza and George Chipadza of Midlands. Chidyamakono beat Mamunyadza 1-0 and drew 0-0 with George Chipadza. The defending champions went on to clobber Mashonaland West’s Sodbury 6-0 in the quarter-finals.
Mamunyadza’s road to the final saw them beating George Chipadza 2-1 at the group stage to finish runners-up to Chidyamakono. Mamunyadza went on to beat Rushinga from Mashonaland Central 2-0 with Siphiwe Rugara getting the brace in the quarter-final. They knocked out Vainona in the semi-finals, winning the match 3-1.
In the boys’ category, defending champions Rujeko were knocked out in the quarterfinals by Rusununguko of Mashonaland East who edged them 1-0. Rusununguko who beat hosts school Chipindura 1-0 in the semi-final will face Pfupajena of Mashonaland West in the final.
Pfupajena’s road to the final began with a 5-1 win against Oriel Boys as well as a 3-0 victory over Kundayi in the group stage. They went on to clobber 2012 champions Mzingwane 5-1 in the quarterfinals before beating Gutu 1-0 in the semi-finals.
Results Boys Group A: Pfupajena 3-0 Kundayi, Oriel Boys 1-5 Pfupajena, Kundayi 0-3 Oriel Boys
Group B: Lobengula 0-0 Rusununguko, Takawira 0-1 Lobengula, Rusununguko 1-0 Takawira
Group C: Somvubu 0-0 Mzingwane, Chipindura 1-0 Somvubu, Mzingwane 0-1 Chipindura
Group D: Guinea Fowl 2-2 Gutu, Rujeko 3-2 Guinea Fowl, Gutu 0-0 Rujeko
Quarterfinals: Pfupajena 5-1 Mzingwane, Chipindura 1-1 Oriel (Chipindura won 5-4 after penalty shootouts), Lobengula 0-1 Gutu, Rujeko 0-1 Rusununguko
Semi-finals: Pfupajena 1-0 Gutu, Chipindura 0-1 Rusununguko
Girls: Group A: Mpopoma 0-2 Mwenezi, Vainona 2-1 Mpopoma, Mwenezi 2-0 Vainona Group B: Mamunyadza 2-1 George Chipadza, Chidyamakono 1-0 Mamunyadza, George Chipadza 0-0 Chidyamakono
Group C: Parirewa 0-0 Hermann Gmeiner, Tongwe 2-0 Parirewa, Hermann Gmeiner 0-1 Tongwe Group D: Rushinga 5-0 Tohwe, Sodbury 0-1 Rushinga, Tohwe 1-1 Sodbury
Quarterfinals: Mwenezi 4-0 Hermann Gmeiner, Tongwe 1-1 Vainona (Vainona won 3-0 after penalty shootouts), Chidyamakono 6-0 Sodbury, Rushinga 0-2 Mamunyadza
Semifinals: Mwenezi 0-0 Chidyamakono (Chidyamakono won 2-1 after penalty shootouts), Vainona 1-3 Mamunyadza.
@ZililoR
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter