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Fungai Muderere, Senior Sports Reporter
DEFEDING champions of the annual Fortune “Fokoza” Ncube Under-14 soccer tournament, Zebra Revolution, are set for Chicken Inn litmus test when they square off in one of the first games of the eight-team tournament that will be held at Entumbane’s Esikwakweni Ground today.
Tshabalala-based Zebra Revolution, a junior football initiative by FC Platinum’s veteran striker Mkhokheli Dube, were last Wednesday drawn to play against Gamecocks’ developmental side, in what promises to be a potential thriller.
Last year, Revolution successfully defended their title after edging Highlanders 3-2.
Having won the inaugural contest in 2017, Revolution beat Ajax Hotspurs 1-0 in a semi-final match to progress to the final while Highlanders booked their place into the final after beating Entumbane Academy 3-1.
Entumbane Academy went on to win 2-1 over Ajax in a third and fourth place play-off. For their efforts, Zebra Revolution went away with a trophy, kit, medals and five balls while the losing finalists, Highlanders, got medals and four balls.
For the 2019 edition, one of the opening fixtures will pit Highlanders and Beitbridge-based Dulibadzimu. Bulawayo City were drawn to play against Bulawayo Chiefs.
Junior football enthusiasts will also get to see FMSA take on City Rovers in a BOC Gas bankrolled tournament.
“We call upon people from all over to come and have fun. We expect to have a bigger tournament this year. We have an assortment of prizes on offer,” said tournament spokesperson Mike Dube said. In the previous year, the contest drew a number of football greats that included Ronald “Gidiza” Sibanda, Herbert Dick, Richard Choruma, Gift Lunga (Snr), Gift Lunga (Jnr), ex Highlanders technical manager Madinda Ndlovu, ex-Bosso coach Cosmas Zulu and veteran football administrator Ndumiso Gumede.
Ncube, a former Bantu Rovers winger, who aims at developing junior footballers in Bulawayo through the challenge, said they were grateful to all who have supported previous editions
In South Africa, Ncube is employed as one of the head coaches at Sporting CP Academy, an academy from Portugal which groomed the world renowned Cristiano Ronaldo.
@FungaiMuderere
Online Reporter