adminBulawayo from September 23 to 25.
The schools are Mufakose 1 High (Harare), Ngomeni (Midlands), Chidembo and Herman Gmeiner (Mashonaland Central), Rufaro (Masvingo), Rutanhira (Mashonaland East), Hwange (Matabeleland North),
Sikhulile and Montrose (Bulawayo), Selonga (Matabeleland South), Rukweza (Manicaland) and Inkomo (Mashonaland West).
The 12 schools have been divided into four groups of three with group A made up of defending champions Herman Gmeiner, Hwange and Mufakose 1 High while Group B consists of Montrose, Ngomeni and Selonga. Chidembo, Inkomo and Rufaro will battle it out in Group C while Sikhulile, Rutanhire and Rukweza are in Group D. The matches will be played on a round-robin format and the top team in each group will progress to the semi-finals. The tournament was introduced last year by the National Association of Secondary Schools Heads, however, Coca- Cola are coming in to sponsor the tournament for the first time.
Coca-Cola brand manager, Mona Karingi said the move comes in an effort to promote the girl child in football.
“The objective of the tournament is to make the girl child get an equal opportunity just like the boy child. We are saying we have to play our part so that the girl child also benefits and now it’s the girls’ time.
“We have the women’s team in Mozambique, the men’s team couldn’t qualify so why not support those that are doing well. Women’s football has become a world phenomenon so why leave our Zimbabwean women,” said Karingi.
Karingi said they are looking forward to a competitive event as most of the schools competed in last year’s tournament.
The winners will get US$1 500 and a floating trophy while the runners up pocket US$1 200 and a floating trophy as well. Third and fourth place teams will pocket US$1 000 plus a floating trophy and
US$500 respectively. The remaining teams will get US$300 as well as the most disciplined team.
There will also be individual prizes with the best coach and player of the tournament getting US$150 while the top goal scorer and best goalkeeper will walk away with US$100 each.
Online Reporter