Nash ready for Copa Coca-Cola U-15 finals

Ricky Zililo, Senior Sports Reporter
THE National Association of Secondary School Heads (Nash) are ready for the country’s annual premier schools’ soccer tournament, Copa Coca-Cola Under-15 national finals that kick-off in Bindura on Friday.

Twenty-four boys’ and girls’ football teams will compete in the 29th edition of the national finals.

The boys’ tournament will be played at Chipindura High, with Hermann Gmeiner playing host to the girls’ competition.

Nash vice-president Arthur Maphosa said vetting would be done at the two centres tomorrow, with the heads-in-charge for the 10 provinces expected to report for camp today.

“We’re ready for the games and all the provincial heads-in-charge are expected to report in on Wednesday, with the participating teams expected for vetting by 2PM on Thursday. We want to start our matches early on Friday,” said Maphosa.

Ten provincial winners for each category will join the hosts and defending champions Rujeko (boys) and Chidyamakono (girls).

Mashonaland Central will have three teams in the boys’ competition as title holders Rujeko are from the province, while Chipindura qualify as hosts and Kundayi are the provincial champions.

In the girls’ category, the host province has Hermann Gmeiner and Rushinga. Masvingo will also have two representatives in the form of reigning champions Chidyamakono and Mwenezi the provincial winners.

The best players will be selected to represent the country in the Under-15 Five-A-Side World Cup set to be launched in South Africa later this year.

Tournament organisers this year reviewed the age-group for boys downwards from Under-16s to Under-15s, with the girls’ age category being reduced from Under-17s to Under-15s.

Lobengula High will represent Bulawayo in the boys’ category hoping to become the second school after Mzilikazi to win the coveted juniors’ soccer trophy.

Mpopoma will be aiming to lift the girls’ title.

Gwanda North District champions Sabiwa and Beitbridge’s Tongwe make their first-ever appearances at the national finals representing Matabeleland South in the boys’ and girls’ respective competitions.

Teams
Boys: Oriel Boys (Harare), Takwirira (Manicaland), Kundayi (Mashonaland Central), Sabiwa (Matabeleland South), Gutu High (Masvingo), Lobengula (Bulawayo), Rusununguko (Mashonaland East), Tohwe (Matabeleland North), Pfupajena (Mashonaland West), Gorge Chipadza (Midlands), Chipindura High (hosts), Rujeko (defending champions).

Girls: Vainona (Harare), Mamunyadza (Manicaland), Rushinga (Mashonaland Cenntral), Tongwe (Matabeleland South), Mwenezi (Masvingo), Mpopoma (Bulawayo), Parirewa (Mashonaland East), Somvubu (Matabeleland North), Sodbury (Mashonaland West), Guinea Fowl (Midlands), Hermann Germainer (host), Chidyamakono (Masvingo).

@ZililoR