adminSenior Sports Reporter
THE finals of the annual Ingwebu Breweries National Association of Primary Heads (Naph) soccer tournament are likely to be postponed from early next month to the second week of next term due to the forthcoming harmonised elections. The finals which will pit provincial champions from three provinces, Bulawayo, Matabeleland North and South, had initially been set for 2 August at White City Stadium in Bulawayo.
“We remain guided by the teachers who are the owners of this whole thing but as it stands, a new proposal has been suggested although it is yet to be confirmed.
“We are likely to have the finals in the second week of next term because of the forthcoming elections which will see a lot of teachers involved,” said Ingwebu Breweries spokesperson Nkosana Prince Ndlovu.
All the schools in the country will be used as polling centres.
Ingwebu Breweries last month unveiled a sponsorship package of $35 000 for this year’s tournament with the winners set to pocket $2 500 and a trophy.
Runners up will receive $2 000 with the third best and fourth team getting $1 500 and $1 200 respectively.
Bulawayo’s Induba Primary School won the 2012 edition of the tournament, beating Gwanda’s Mkhaliphe 1-0 in a final played at Pelandaba Stadium in Gwanda town.
Inaugurated in 1994, the tournament was suspended between 2009 to 2011 due to financial challenges.
Meanwhile, the Matabeleland South provincial finals will be held this Friday at Mvuthu Primary School with Bulawayo holding their own at White City Stadium on 17 July. The finals for Matabeleland North will be held at Jotsholo Primary School.
The grand finale will then come to Bulawayo.
Online Reporter
derick.khumalo