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Ellina Mhlanga Sports Reporter
FORMER defending champions in the Copa Coca-Cola girls Under-17 football tournament, Vainona, will be hoping to secure a place in the national finals when they lock horns with other schools in today’s provincial finals at Oriel Girls High.
Oriel Boys High will host the boys Under-16 and the girls’ group C will be at Lewisam Primary School.
However, all eyes in Harare will be on Vainona, who won the national title for two consecutive years in 2011 and 2012 before losing to Chidyamakono from Masvingo in the finals last year in Mutare, as they seek to book a place in the national event scheduled for next month in Harare.
The former title holders will take on the hosts Oriel Girls High and Budiriro in Group B.
Group A is made up of Mbare High, Mabelreign Girls High and Highfield while Tafara 1, Girls High and Zengeza 2 High battle it out in group C.
Vainona coach, Langton Kagwere, said they were ready for the challenge and hoping for a positive result.
“What I can safely say is we are ready. Our focus this time around is not just Copa Coca-Cola, we are looking beyond Coca-Cola.
“We are eyeing the Zone Six (now known as the Africa Union Sports Region Five Youth Games) because the majority of my players are provisionally in the squad for the Games.
“There is Greater Bande, Millanda Chimbwanda, Mercy Marowa, Gracious Mageza and Fungai Bvekwa,” said Kagwere.
Kagwere said they want to represent the province again this year and that Harare is hosting is an advantage.
However, he noted that there is pressure on their part as they are the former defending champions.
“The advantage is it will be in Harare so I think every team in Harare will be looking at playing in the (national) finals.
“As much as we want to play there will be a lot of pressure on us because playing at home is difficult than playing away.
“Being the defending champions it puts a lot of pressure on us but I think we will try our best to play our normal game. I think we will try to adapt so that we can at least swallow the pressure.
“Our chances are not that bad but when we are playing these teams, almost everyone knows us and wants to prove a point that they can beat us.
“So it will be 50-50,” said Kagwere.
Vainona has been competing in this tournament since the introduction of the girls tournament in 2011 and Kagwere warned his charges against complacency.
In the boys’ category, Group A will see Mabvuku taking on Prince Edward and Mufakose 1 while Group B is made up of Churchill, Glen Norah 2 High and Seke I High.
Group C consists of Oriel Boys’ High, Ellis Robins and Marlborough High. Churchill will be using today’s competition to prepare for the national finals and their coach, Gift Zvavanhu, early this week said they were looking forward to the tournament.
In Bulawayo teams will converge at Gifford High while Plumtree High will host teams from Matabeleland South most provinces host their finals today.
Nkayi High play hosts to teams from Matabeleland North.
Schools from Masvingo will battle it out at Hippo Valley with the boys competition set for today and the girls event has been slated for tomorrow.
Mashonaland East’s boys teams converge at Marondera High today and the girls’ tournament has been moved to July 11 at Nagle House.
Hermaine Germain High School is the place to be for Mashonaland Central teams while Rimuka and Munyaradzi High are the venues for Mashonaland West.
Midlands will host their provincial finals on July 4 at Guinea Fowl and Manicaland teams will now meet at Mutare Boys High and Elis Gledhill after the matches were moved from Sakubva 1.
Online Reporter