adminSports Correspondent
IN a classic case of David slaying the behemoth Goliath, Mutema High School senior soccer team ensured that the pre-tournament favourites, Goko High School, fell at the last hurdle.
Mutema triumphed 5-4 on penalties after the full 90 minutes and an extra 30 minutes did not separate the two eternal gladiators, much to the joy of Mutimwii, the Mutema High School soccer coach.
Mike Chigaro from Mutema bossed the midfield and sprayed passes around with the calmness of a veteran. He was named player of the tournament.
Early in the morning there was much fan fare as the Guest of Honour, Mrs Chiedza Beta, the D.E.O arrived, and the ushers led her to the VIP section. Indeed, the Goko clan filled the tent much to the delight of the crowd that always cried “Chirandu” whenever a clan elder’s name was called through the PA system.
Muchongoyo dancers made the appreciative crowd cry for more. Mudhara Janson Madzimba Gamira entertained the crowd with silky dancing skills as the dancers and women singers ignited nostalgic memories for the majority of the old men and women who ploughed down memory lane to the time when being a very good Muchongoyo dancer would catapult you to immeasurable fame within the community.
The Nyunga dance troupe did it the way that the old men and women knew it must be done and true to form, winning the Muchongoyo dance competition which was held in a carnival atmosphere.
Referees came from ZIFA and ZINA.
Interestingly, Kuda Majo, who at one time refereed in the African Women Championships, led a high-powered panel of football referees that included Claris Simango and Varaidzo Samushonga to add glamour to the tournament.
In the two games the three were locked in, there were sighs of satisfaction and the results were uncontested.
Mutema School comprehensively thrashed helpless Maunganidze 4-0 and in the process won a shield and $200 in a one-sided soccer final for the primary schools. Clive Mandande played the game of his life as he made the Maunganidze team look ordinary.
Manesa fell to Bangwe 4-6 in a tightly contested match in netball; in the secondary school category, Musani retained its status as the netball giants of the zone when the girls beat their Gideon Mhlanga counterparts in a game that could have gone either way but the resilience of the Musani girls proved decisive at the end of the day.
Sheer power made the Musani girls power home to victory. Tariro Zondai and Tariro Makanyise tore apart Gideon Mhlanga with their shooting prowess.
In her keynote address, Mrs Beta noted that talent must be encouraged in our schools as one can actually earn a living through sport. She said she used to participate in ball games and enjoyed the experience very much; the onus was on education to nurture the talent until it reached a height that everyone is proud of.
Plentiful food was provided for the participants. Maxwell Chaya thanked the community for their patience, which ensured the tourney’s success.
Online Reporter