adminPlaxedes Sibanda Sports Reporter
ENTUMBANE and Msiteli High Schools were crowned the inaugural Under-17 Umdala Wethu Schools Rugby Tournament champions at games played at Hartsfield Rugby Ground in Bulawayo yesterday. The tournament to commemorate the life of the late Father Zimbabwe attracted 16 schools in the boys’ category and six schools in the girls’ section in the two-day event that started last Friday.
The schools which participated were Sikhulile, Njube, Emakhandeni, Nkulumane, Msiteli, Northlea, Sobukhazi, St Columbus, Milton, St Bernards, Amhlophe, Mzilikazi, Nkulumane, Hamilton, Ihlathi and Luveve.
Entumbane defeated Milton High School 13-12 in a closely contested final. Msiteli in the girls’ category won 3-1 against Northlea High School in a penalty kicks at goal after the match had ended in a stalemate.
The boys’ winners walked away with two rugby balls, medals, a trophy and a full kit for their school team while the girls got medals, a shield,two rugby balls and a full kit.
Players of the tournament were Darren Fisher from Milton for boys and Lovelight Fusire from Msiteli for girls.
The chief executive officer of the Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo National Foundation, Jabulani Hadebe, applauded all the schools that took part to celebrate the legacy of the late Vice-President.
Tournament organiser George Mukorera said he was pleased with the performance of the youngsters and they are looking forward to increasing the number of the schools to 24 in the next edition.
“This is a developmental tournament and we are looking forward to increasing the number of participating schools to 24, we would like to focus more on girls’ teams,” he said.
derick.khumalo