adminIT was sweet revenge for Gaza High School of Chipinge after they got the better of bitter rivals Mutare Boys’ High School in the provincial finals of the M & H Under-17 tournament played at Nyanga Country Club last Friday. A solitary goal was enough to silence the city boys.The Chipinge side will now represent the province in the national finals to be played on July 27 at Nemakonde High School in Mashonaland West.
Gaza were on the receiving end in the recent Copa Coca-Cola 16 and under provincial finals played at Mutare Boys’ High soccer grounds and the M & H tournament presented a platform for the Chipinge side to revenge on the agonising Copa Coca-Cola defeat.
A total of 12 schools that include Nyangani, Nyashanu, Crossdale, losing finalists Mutare Boys’ High, Muzokomba, Chimanimani, Chipinge, winners Gaza High, St Augustine’s, Vengere, Chishakwe and Nyakuipa participated in the M & H U-17 provincial finals.
Gaza began their quest for a slot at the national finals with a sterling performance in the group stages where they found themselves in the same group with St Augustine’s of Mutasa, Nyakuipa and Vengere of Makoni District.
Gaza outplayed Nyakuipa by a solitary goal and went on to dismiss Vengere by the same margin in the group stages. St Augustine’s and Nyakuipa shared the spoils in the other group match, thereby leaving Gaza to progress to the quarter-finals.
Mutare District representatives, Mutare Boys’ High school, also fared well in group stages earning themselves a ticket in the quarter-finals in which they dismissed Chimanimani 3-0. Chimanimani had also progressed to the quarters from their group.
It was an all Chipinge affair in the other quarter-final where Gaza and Chipinge High squared off and Gaza thumped their opponents 4-2 in a penalty shoot-out lottery after the two teams had settled for a goalless draw in regulation time.
In the semi-finals, Gaza got the better of Crossdale 1-0 while Boys’ High beat Muzokomba 3-2.
Online Reporter