adminNkosilathi Sibanda Sports Reporter
MATABELELAND South Nash Under-20 handball representatives Phakamani and Filabusi High schools are aiming for gold at this year’s national finals in Kwekwe.
Phakamani will represent the province in the boys’ competition while Filabusi will take part in the girls’ event.
Since the re-introduction of handball in the schools’ calendar in 2008, Matopo High, Gwanda, Mzinyathini, Plumtree and JZ Moyo secondary school, all from Matabeleland South province, have done well in national meets.
The Filabusi High School girls’ side have defied all odds to qualify for the national finals with barely enough resources to train.
Phakamani concluded their preparations ahead of the tournament last week and head coach Nation Ncube was confident they would lift the title.
“Our play has been above expectation since we started in the first stages of the competition. It’s not a matter of adding numbers but winning the handball championship. In the past weeks, the boys gave their best in training and we’re confident of victory,” said Ncube.
In 2014, Danhamombe and Churchill Boys High schools were crowned the girls’ and boys’ champions at Bulawayo’s Northlea High School.
Danhamombe overcame Harare’s Girls High 12-10 while Churchill defeated Rujeko High 14-11.
2013 champions in the boys’ category JZ Moyo were whipped by Churchill 13-2 in the semis before losing to Matopo 7-3 in the third-place play-off.
Filabusi High School finished third in the girls’ category.
Nash head-in-charge of handball, Beauty Mutsambiwa, said they were looking forward to an exciting competition.
“Each year we get different teams and this is a sign of high standards of play in every province,” said Mutsabiwa.
This year’s national finals would also be used to select the Zimbabwe team that will participate in the Young Masters Cup invitational in Cape Town next month.
Online Reporter