adminPaul Mundandi, Midlands Correspondent
MIDLANDS representatives in the Copa Coca-Cola girls’ soccer tournament, Matinunura, have vowed to turn the tables and bring the crown to their province for the first time. The finals will be hosted by Sakubva High School this Friday and Saturday and will bring together all the country’s top soccer schools.
Last year Matinunura were knocked out in the semi- finals by eventual winners Vainona High School in Victoria Falls.
“Our message to Vainona is we are coming well prepared for them and they must watch out. They knocked us out at the grand stage and we need to revenge and we want to bring the trophy to the City of Progress (Gweru).”
“Last year we conceded a silly penalty but my players are now experienced. We are going to sail past all the teams in our pool and we want to meet the defending champions in the final and make sure they will not get the trophy for keeps. We are very motivated and we are more than happy that we have been the best discipline at our school. After knocking Manunure out of the competition in the provincial finals we are going to send some shock waves in Mutare next weekend,” boasted Tariro Mudadigwa, the Matinunura coach.
The school is brimming with confidence as the team still has six players who were the core of the team last year.
Chipo “Musoja” Chikohora, a defence stalwart who was part of the school’s Dream Team that went to South Africa, still commands her place in the team.
True to his words, Lovely Mututuva, Charity Ganyiwa, Phillipa Tawarira, Chikohora and midfielder Barbara Manyanga also play for a Division One side Chipembere and they are expected to use their experience to pose a strong challenge for the trophy.
The girls’ soccer team is the most recognised at the school which is in Mkoba and now they find themselves representing Midlands for the second time in a row.
Goalkeeper Petronella Maribha, midfielder Talent Bhika and striker Charity Gandiwa are expected to carry the province’s hopes on the national stage.
“We want to win the championship in its third year after it was launched in 2011 and we feel nothing will stop us as we have done our homework and we are going to beat all the other teams. We are not going there to add numbers,” said Mudadigwa who was behind the formation of the team in 2010.
The Copa Coca-Cola tournament which roars into life this Friday is being hosted under the theme, “Crazy for Good with Soccer” will also see the tournament producing a Dream Team of 20 players that will be selected by sports journalists and match commissioners. The team will go to South Africa for a two-week training camp.
This year’s edition will mark 25 years of existence. The winners of the girls’ edition will pocket $3 000 with $2 500 and $2 000 going to the first and second runners-up.
In the boys section winners will take home $6 500 with losing finalists taking $5 500 and $3 500 for the third placed team.
The draw
Girls Under -17
Pool A: Vainona, Selonga, Mosi-Oa-Tunya
Pool B: Matinunura, Rutanhira, Sakubva One
Pool C: Sodibury, Masotsha, Mbare
Pool D: Rukweza, St Francis, Chidyamakono
Boys Under 16
Pool A: Mzingwane, Ngezi Barracks, Zvishavane
Pool B: Gaza, Hwange, Gifford
Pool C: Sakubva One, Mwenezi, Chemanza
Pool D: Gwanda, Howard, Churchill
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