Matabeleland North Under-20 Football Tournament kicks off in Binga

NINE secondary schools from Matabeleland North are battling it out at the Proton Provincial Under20 Football Tournament that got underway at Manjolo Secondary School in Binga this morning.

The games kicked off with each of the seven districts represented by a team while Binga and Hwange have two each by virtue of being hosts and defending champions.

Hwange Government High School will seek to defend the title against eight other schools namely Manjolo High who are coming in as hosts, Msewele Secondary from Lupane, Simbo Secondary (Nkayi), Somvubu High (Bubi), Neshaya Secondary (Hwange), Tsholotsho Secondary, Muchesu from Binga and Nyamandlovu from Umguza.

Hwange Government last year represented the province in Bulawayo and lost in the finals.
Matabeleland North head-in-charge of soccer Khumbulani Sibanda from Somvubu High School said the game started well despite the scotching heat and sandy pitches in Binga.

The teams travelled on Thursday to Binga for the games.
“All is well and the boys are raring to go as we have just gone through our first matches. The temperatures are high and hopefully the boys are going to cope with the sandy pitch too,” said Sibanda.

The tournament features soccer powerhouses and some new schools that have not dominated the sport before, showing the growth of the sport in the grassroots.