Online Reporter
Sikhumbuzo Moyo and Lovemore Dube
CONTROVERSY has rocked the National Association of Secondary School Heads (NASH) national Under-17 boys’ football finals, which kick off at Barbourfields Stadium in Bulawayo on Thursday, after Matabeleland South champions Ivinar Academy were controversially barred from participating on the grounds that they are a private institution.
The Filabusi-based school, which has been a fully paid-up NASH member since 2023, was excluded from the tournament on the eve of the competition despite having progressed through the district, provincial and national qualifying stages.
The decision has sparked outrage among sports administrators and education stakeholders, who are questioning why the school was allowed to compete throughout the qualification process only to be disqualified at the finals.
“We are already here in Bulawayo for the competitions and our kids were geared up for the games only to be told by word of mouth that we can’t compete because we are a private school and Phakamani High School, whom we beat in the provincial finals, will take our place,” said a teacher at the school.
The development has left players, coaches and parents frustrated after weeks of preparations for the national showcase.
NASH national head in charge of football, Ropafadzo Matemavi, referred all questions to the association’s national vice-president and Goromonzi High School headmaster, Nelson Gombera.
“Please get in touch with the NASH vice-president,” said Matemavi.
The matter was on Wednesday night taken up with Zifa.
NASH are an affiliate of the national association.
Simba Mawere of Mawere Law Firm in Bulawayo confirmed on Wednesday night that he had engaged Zifa on the matter.
“We could have gone for a court injunction to stop the games but we engaged Zifa who asked us to put it in writing,” said Mawere.
Efforts to obtain a comment from Gombera were unsuccessful as his mobile phone went unanswered by the time of publication.
The tournament is scheduled to begin at 8am today, with Phakamani High School expected to replace Ivinar Academy in the competition. Zimpapers Sports Hub will publish Gombera’s response once it is received.
Some of the participating players even in the girls’ competition at Gifford are drawn from private schools like Riverdale since rules now allow guest players to gain exposure.
