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The Herald, August 17, 1981
Zimbabwe were crowned “kings” of Southern Africa youth football at windy Machava Stadium last night. And as captain Stanley “Sinyo” Ndunduma received the Zone Six championship trophy, no one could dispute his team’s superiority.
They crashed Lesotho to stay top of the log with seven points while Mozambique took second spot by beating Malawi 4 – 1 in the final game.
Outclassed Lesotho never stood a chance and an early three-goal blitz put the red-shirted Zimbabweans well on the way to their finest hour.
Only a few thousand spectators dotted the bowl-shaped ground as Zimbabwe kicked off in sunny condition with the strong wind behind them. Samson Phiri shot straight at goalkeeper Makara Ntoshi after just two minutes and then was narrowly wide from Charles Chirwa’s cross.
Another chance was wasted when Rainos Mapfumo fired direct at Ntoshi and then came a moment of near disaster for Zimbabwe. Goalkeeper Japhet Muparutsa – who regained his place in one of two late changes – once again proved vulnerable to high crosses.
He fumbled a centre from the left wing and Lesotho striker Moeketsi Mofammere blazed over an empty goal as Muparutsa scrambled to cover.
Zimbabwe went ahead in the 13th minute when Ntoshi could not hold David Mwanza’s drive and Chirwa blasted in from point-blank range.
Mwanza set up the second goal two minutes later by dribbling into the penalty area before passing to Chirwa whose effort was blocked. In stepped Phiri to snap up the rebound and score with a short which trickled agonisingly over the line.
LESSONS FOR TODAY
Zimbabwe has remained a soccer powerhouse in the region. In terms of the Cosafa Cup, Zimbabwe is the joint top winner with Zambia after having won the cup a record six times.
The country needs to continue nurturing its young talent so that it safeguards its legacy in football which has in the recent past taken a severe knock due to problems affecting the administration of the country’s football.
Competitions among countries are healthy because they enhance friendship and co-operation.
Competitions also act as a yardstick to determine how far the nation would have progressed in sport.
Online Reporter