adminRicky Zililo and Jillian Shava
MASVINGO Province ruled the roost at the Copa Coca-Cola national finals that ended in Bulawayo yesterday with its representatives scooping the boys’ Under-16 and girls’ Under-17 titles. Dewure High School from Gutu put up a stellar performance in the boys’ final to walk away with $6,500 and a floating trophy after beating Rujeko High from Glendale, Mashonaland Central, 4-3 in a penalty shootout at Barbourfields Stadium.
The final had produced a six-goal thriller to end in a 3-3 stalemate in regulation time.
Chidyamakono from Chivi won their third consecutive girls’ title, edging St Francis High from Chivhu, Mashonaland East, 1-0 in the final.
Sarah Nyambanga was the hero of the girls’ final by grabbing the solitary goal.
For winning three titles in a row, Chidyamakono get to keep the trophy permanently, in addition to the $3,000 prize money.
However, it was the boys’ six-goal thriller that kept people on the edge of their seats throughout the game.
Dewure, who won the 2010 edition, and Rujeko displayed some superb football, with both sets of players showing maturity way above their age.
Both sets of players were comfortable on the ball and made timely runs on and off the ball, something that some Premiership players have starved football lovers of.
Rujeko made the first meaningful threat in front of goal in the 14th minute when Joseph Beneficient’s long-range shot forced Dewure’s goalie Brenton Gomo to dive full-length to punch it back into play.
Ronald Wadula met the rebound a half-volley that hit the upright.
Three minutes later, Cardwell Chifamba fired Dewure into the lead after making a timely run, beating the offside trap to get to the end of a perfect Blessing Mudyanadzo pass and putting the ball past the advancing Rujeko goalkeeper Tanaka Majaji.
After the opening goal, Dewure players’ confidence levels shot up with right-back Prince Milanzi’s overlapping runs keeping his opponents on their toes, while Mudyanadzo controlled the midfield with aplomb, spraying passes in every direction in a manner that left some Premiership coaches in awe.
Victor Rinodamoto even attempted to score directly from a corner kick twice, but found Majaji alert.
Rujeko equalised on the stroke of half time through Wadula, who beat Milanzi and Forster Munganasa before finishing coolly.
Rujeko then shot into the lead four minutes into the second half through Bright Nhau, who benefited from a Wadula cutback.
Nhau completed his brace after dispossessing Dewure centre back Nigel Muringa and curling the ball past a haplessly diving Gomo.
Enjoying a two-goal lead, Rujeko looked to be on course for victory, but Dewure fought back and reduced the deficit through a free kick by Audrey Maguche. The Dewure forward took advantage of the dimunitive goalie Majaji by hitting a dipping shot.
Wadula should have put the game to bed in the 51st minute after being set through by Nhau, but he failed to direct his effort at goal.
Four minutes later, Milanzi, who was reassigned to the left wing in the second half, completed Dewure’s comeback when he coolly slotted the ball past the goalkeeper to force the game into the dreaded penalty shootout.
Dewure went on to win the match 4-3 with Maguche, Munganasa, Milanzi and Chifamba converting.
Rujeko’s Augustine Mudzami, Ishmael Nyamhi and Ashley Musamiwa were the only ones on target, while Nhau and Beneficient missed.
Dewure had beaten Mpopoma 3-0 in the quarter-finals and Chemhanza 3-0 on penalties in the semi-finals.
Rujeko beat Guinea Fowl 3-2 in the quarterfinals and edged Prince Edward 1-0 in the semi-finals.
Individual accolades in the boys’ category saw Evans Dambo of How Mine and Eison Diweha from Guinea Fowl sharing the top goal scorer award after netting three goals each, while the goalkeeper of the tournament went to Jinnjihad Murevanomwe of Chemhanza.
Sophia Mlambo of Chidyamakono was the girls’ top scorer with seven goals, with her teammate Nyaradzo Chifamba being crowned goalkeeper of the tournament.
Fiona Kapera of St Francis was voted player of the tournament in the girls’ event.
Online Reporter