adminBulawayo boys beat Masvingo 1-0 under controversial circumstances in a Group A match while hosts Mashonaland Central lost 1-0 to Mashonaland East at Chipadze.
In girls’ soccer, Bulawayo were too strong for Mashonaland East as they hammered them 4-1 in a Group A encounter at Hermann Gmeiner.
Bulawayo got their goals from Peacemore Kawende who scored a hat-trick and Rebecca Mandaza while Vimbai Jimu scored the consolation for Mash East.
Varaidzo Phiri, Bulawayo’s team manager expressed satisfaction with his team’s display and is confident of grabbing gold medal.
“We are playing good football and we are going for the gold this year. Our chances are very bright and we want to revenge after losing in the finals last year,” said Phiri.
Charity Karuru, sister to Ovidy Karuru, scored a beauty as Masvingo Province edged Manicaland 1-0 in the other Group A encounter.
In Group B matches Mashonaland Central thumped Midlands 4-0 while Matabeleland North beat Mashonaland West 5-1.
Last year’s soccer runners-up Mashonaland West emerged the biggest winners on the opening day of this year’s National Youth Games after dismissing out of sorts Manicaland 4-0 in a Group B match played at Trojan yesterday.
Mash West settled for silver medal in last year’s competitions after going down to eventual winners Midlands whom they are set to meet again in this group of death.
All the top three finalists in last year’s edition of the tournament have been paired to play each other with Harare Metropolitan Province who finished third last year and Matabeleland South making up the group.
Mash West raced to a comfortable victory with goals coming from Owen Muzavazi who scored a brace, Tinotenda Kamanga and Kudzai Nyakasaka.
In the second match of Group B Tinotenda Kadewere’s solitary second half strike ensured Harare Metropolitan Province started their campaign on a bright note as they dismissed Matabeleland South 1-0.
In boys’ volleyball, Harare beat Mash West 2-0 in their first match and lost 2-0 to Matabeleland North in their second match while Matabeleland North lost 2-0 to Manicaland in their second game.
Mash Central dismissed Bulawayo 2-0 with Midlands getting the better of Matabeleland South 2-0.
In the girls category Mash East beat Mash Central 2-0 and Midlands dismissed Manicaland 2-1.
Mat South beat Mash West 2-0 while Matabeleland North lost 2-0 to Masvingo.
Meanwhile, the start of tennis matches has been delayed as the courts at Bindura Primary were still under construction with only one court being ready for play by late midday yesterday.
Londile Moyo
Bongani Ndlovu