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Ellina Mhlanga Sports Reporter
AFTER falling in the provincial semi-finals last year, Churchill Boys High bounced back yesterday to claim the ticket to this year’s Copa Coca-Cola national finals when they beat Mufakose 3-1 in the Harare province finals.
This year’s Copa Coca-Cola Under-16 boys and Under-17 girls’ national finals are slated for July 22 to 24 in Gwanda.
Churchill, who were hosting the provincial finals together with Roosevelt will be joined by Mabelreign Girls High, who will compete in the girls section.
The hosts got their goals from Sean Muzinde 10 minutes into the first half, Munashe Pini and Dylan Nyamuhwe weighed in with a goal each to seal the victory for Churchill. Their coach, Justin Kabetha, said the competition was tough as all the participating teams proved to be good.
“It was tough. The final was a tough game because two minutes into the match our defender handled the ball inside the box. So we had pressure because we had to come from behind,” said Kabetha.
“It’s my first time to go to the national finals of the Copa Coca-Cola.
“But we will continue from where we left. We are not underrating any team going into the finals because all teams have qualified meaning they are good.
“Each game we will take it as a final and we are going there to win,” said Kabetha.
Mabelreign Girls High beat former champions Vainona 4-2 on penalties. The match had ended in a goalless draw in regulation time.
In matches played in other provinces, Devuli beat Tsvingwe 5-4 on penalties to represent Manicaland in the boys section while Nyamauru will battle it out in the girls’ section.
Matabeleland North will be represented by Tohwe High from Nkayi in the boys’ category and Sojini will battle it out in the girls section.
Chinhoyi High and Vimbai are the boys and girls provincial winners for Mashonaland West.
Chemhanza, who won the 2013 and 2014 boys editions earned their ticket to Gwanda when they beat Uzumba 1-0 in Mashonaland East’s finals. They will be joined by Gotora in the girls’ section. Guinea Fowl boys and Utongani girls are Midlands’ representatives.
Rujeko and Chipadze are boys and girls winners from Mashonaland Central. Rujeko will be hoping for another good show this year after losing to Dewure in the finals last year at Barbourfields in Bulawayo. Masvingo will have four teams at the national finals in the form of Dewure and Chidyamakono, who are the defending champions.
Matabeleland South are also going to have four representatives, with Gwanda High and Colleen Bawn qualifying by the virtue of being the hosting schools.
However, their provincial finals are set for Tuesday and Wednesday.
Bulawayo are also expected to have their finals on the same dates.
The winning teams from the provincial finals walked away with $150 and two soccer balls while the runner-ups got $100. The semi-finalists got $80 and all participating teams received $50 for their efforts.
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