Mzilikazi, Mpopoma for Kambarami tourney

Sports Reporter

Schools’ football giants, Mzilikazi and Mpopoma have been invited to the annual Falcon College Kambarami Invitational Tournament and are among the favourites to win.

The prestigious tournament will be held at Falcon College on Saturday. Mpopoma are first time participants at the Under-20 tournament which will include six other schools namely the hosts Falcon College, Mzingwane, Mvuthu, Mtshabezi, defending champions, Midlands Christian College and Christian Brothers College.

On the other hand, Mzilikazi will be making their second trip to Esigodini having participated and won the 2015 edition of the event after a 1-0 victory over Falcon in the final. Umzingwane District will this year have four representatives at Kambarami.

Falcon College teacher-in-charge (football) Rodwell Khumalo said the invitation of Mzilikazi and Mpopoma is aimed at making the tournament more competitive and exciting. He said both schools have a rich football heritage that is sure to add value to the tournament.

“When we decided to invite Mzilikazi and Mpopoma the idea was to improve the quality of the competition as well as to harness the rich heritage that both schools share in football development. We hope their presence at Kambarami 2019 will add value to the event,” Khumalo told Sunday News.

The eight schools at the tournament will be placed in two groups of four and play a round robin format to decide the group winners and runners up who will then square off in the semi-finals. Group A will have Falcon, Mpopoma, Mtshabezi and Mvuthu while Group B will see CBC, Mzilikazi, Mzingwane the defending champions MCC battling for spots in the semis. The draw for the group stages means that Mzilikazi and Mpopoma have been kept apart as has been bitter rivals Falcon and CBC as well as Mzingwane and Mvuthu with intriguing semi-final match ups beckoning. 

Falcon have former Highlanders and senior national team defender Dazy Kapenya in the technical department and have shown improvement since his arrival. Kapenya’s presence at Falcon could be the key to his side’s fortunes at this year’s tournament. A former Soccer Star of the Year and multiple league championship winner, Kapenya has had a visible impact on Falcon’s football programme since his arrival.

Mzingwane and Mvuthu both have quality players some of whom are on the books of Matabeleland South Division Two side, Habane Pirates. Mzingwane can count on Pirates’ hardman, Mbongiseni Ncube and roving left back Simon Jeranje while Mvuthu have Remember Ndlovu, Border Moyo and the free scoring Tonderai Muhambi as they head into the tournament.

Falcon will bank on captain Taurai Tugwete, Methembe Mzizi, Ismail Nabil, Tanaka Muchipisi, Rogan Wolhuter and Ashley Mapuma. The six were selected for the Conference of Heads of Independent Schools of Zimbabwe squad that will tour South Africa in August. Last year the one day tournament was won by Gweru school MCC who beat the hosts Falcon 1-0 in the final.