adminMalaba was speaking after the final game in which Mzingwane beat Pamushana High School of Masvingo Province 1-0.
She said Coca-Cola was proud to be associated with noble partners who are Nash, the custodians of secondary schools football. She said schools had done well in producing players for the nation.
Twelve Under-17 girls teams and as many boys’ Under-16 took part in the tournament in which 20 players were selected as the All-Star team.
The boys’ team will travel to South Africa for a training camp. Last year Zimbabwe sent the best players to Chelsea Football Club.
Nash coaches will reduce the squad to 16 players before they leave at the end of next month for a 10-day tour.
Twenty three African teams are expected to be in Cape Town.
The girls will go to the Cossasa Games that will be in Windhoek, Namibia, late next month. The players were a cut above the rest as they spearheaded their teams’ hopes although some albeit to nothing as Mzingwane High School from Matabeleland South did the Southern Region proud with their 1-0 triumph over favourites Pamushana. The solitary strike came off the boot of captain Innocent Chifamba’s dipping freekick from the centreline which beat Sean Arimose in goal for Pamushana.
In the girls’ category Vainona from Harare successfully defended their trophy after a 2-0 win over Masvingo’s Chidyamakono courtesy of goals from Greater Bande and Tinotenda Sadziwa.
It was however the heroics of young Paul Makotore the Mzingwane goalminder that warmed the hearts of many fans with his saves that kept the team in the game after a siege by a rampant Pamushana that was in no mean mood with a dominant and beautiful display and his goalkeeper of the tournament award was well deserved.
Online Reporter