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THE 2015 edition of the annual schools soccer fete, the Copa Coca-Cola Under-16 boys’ and Under-17 girls’ gets into its national finals today in Bulawayo with Mutare Boys’ High and Nyamauru, once again representing Manicaland.
Mutare Boys’ High and Nyamauru High schools staged a smash-and-grab raid during the provincial Copa Coca Cola finals held in Rusape a fortnight ago to steal the two tickets to represent Manicaland once again in the national finals.
The two schools were Manicaland representatives in the Copa Coca Cola soccer Under-16 boys’ and Under-17 girls’ national finals last year in Harare.
Interestingly, Mutare Boys’ are the only school returning to the national finals after all those that took part in the 2014 national finals held in Harare bowed out in last week’s provincial finals.
Their visibly elated Mutare Boys’ High School head, Mathew Kamushinda Tondoya, told Post Sport that the return to the national finals was testimony of the consistency the institution had maintained in soccer in particular and sport in general.
“As Mutare Boys’ High, we value sporting activities as a possible means of survival in future for our students, hence the return to the national finals is testimony of the consistency the institution has maintained in soccer in particular and sport in general,” he said.
This year, Mutare Boys’ High and Nyamauru High schools will join other 20 provincial winners and two hosts for the 27th edition of the schools soccer tournament national finals set for Bulawayo on July 19.
The Shumbas, as Mutare Boys’ High School are known in schools football circles were the winners in Group A during the group stages of the provincial contest and went on to face Tsvingwe in the quarter-finals whom they trounced 4-0.
The other quarter-finals matches saw finalists, St Noah hammering hapless hosts, Vengere 5-0, while St Faith’s outplayed St Joseph 4-0.
Chipinge District representatives, Mt Selinda High held Devuli to a goalless stalemate, but succumbed 8-7 in the dreaded penalty shoot-out lottery.
In the semi-finals, Mutare Boys’ High got the better of St Faith’s 3-0, while determined St Noah stormed into the final thanks to a slender 1-0 triumph over Devuli.
However, skill and experienced prevailed over determination when Mutare Boys’ High edged St Noah 1-0 in the final. It was indeed a bitter pill to swallow for St Noah given that the same team that denied them a ticket to the Bulawayo finals is the same outfit that booted them out in the quarter-finals of last year’s edition of the provincial finals.
Be that as it may, Mutare Boys’ High will now look forward to the national finals in Bulawayo.
Online Reporter