MPOPOMA UPBEAT

Fungai Muderere
BULAWAYO COPA Coca-Cola football provincial defending champions Mpopoma High School are confident of retaining their title at the provincial finals to be held at Gifford on Friday.

If Mpopoma do succeed to replicate what they did at a local level last year, they will secure a place in the national event to be staged in Gwanda at the end of the month.

James Rugwevera, the Mpopoma sports director feels they have done enough to prepare for the provincial finals on Friday. Despite having a guaranteed slot at Gifford as the defending champions for the province, Mpopoma still played in their district where they came out as the top team. In the group stages, Mpopoma defeated Msiteli 3-0 and saw off Nkulumane 1-0 to set up a semi-final clash against Sizane whom they thrashed 3-0.

Ihlathi were their opponents in the Mzilikazi district final and the Babson Ngwenya coached Mpopoma were 2-1 victors. Because Mpopoma are the reigning provincial champions, Ihlathi and Sizane are going through as the Mzilikazi district representatives.

a�?This time around we are better prepared if we go to the national finals. We have to first of all focus on the provincial finals, we are looking forward to going past the group stage and get to the finals. We are confident of passing through even though powerhouses like Mzilikazi will always be threats, Sizane also have a good players,a��a�� said Rugwevera who is also the teama��s technical director.

Last year, at the national competition held in Bulawayo, Mpopoma went as far as the quarter finals. Drawn in group A, Mpopoma beat Mutare Boys High and then drew against Rujeko. Mpopoma were eliminated at the last eight stage where they went down 3-0 to eventual winners Dewure.

From last yeara��s team, Mpopoma have retained five players, these being son to former AmaZulu and Highlanders midfielder Farai Mutjokoro, Lexington, goalkeeper Brian Ndlovu, Mongameli Tshuma, Brighton Mkhwananzi and Mthokozisi Maphosa.

Ndlovu is one of the team captains together with Mkwananzi and Arthur Chinda.

The provincial finals for the boys and girls are set to be held all over the country where the winners will join last yeara��s champions as well as the hosting schools at the national competition to be staged in Gwanda from 22 through to 24 July.

In Matabeleland North, the finals will be played at Fatima High and schools that include Siansundu, Inyathi, Mkhosana, Regina Mundi, Tohwe, Tsholotsho and David Livingstone in the boys category.

In the girls category, Lusulu, Somvubu, Mashake, Zenzele, Tohwe, John Landa Sojini, Fatima and Dinyane are the academic institutions that are going to fight it out.A� Filabusi High will playhost to e Matabeleland South provincial finals.