adminTakudzwa Chitsiga Sports Reporter
MANICALAND Province National Association of School Heads in charge of soccer Joseph Machuwaire would be happy if their representatives Gandawi sail through beyond the quarter-finals of the Pinda Musmart/Ngena kuSmart Under-20 soccer tournament.The school defied all odds to represent Manicaland in this year’s edition after they won the qualifiers in Buhera last week. The team got the better of several schools who included St Mathias Tsonzo, Chibuwe, Biriri, Mutare Boys Sakubva High, among others.
Machuwaire is hopeful that the team will break the quarter-final jinx as most teams in the province had failed to clear that hurdle.
“The school will represent us but and I am urging the team to break the quarter-final jinx,” Machuwire said.
Albert Macheka, the National Association of School Heads in charge of soccer, believes the coming on board of rural schools will boost the level of competition.
Macheka is hopeful that the competition, which begins today at Prince Edward, will showcase new talent.
“We are well prepared for the tournament and everything is in place for a competitive final. There are several rural schools who have come all the way to represent their provinces which is good for exposure.
“We used to have schools who were powerhouses in their provinces but this year things have changed and it gives the sport a new dimension.
“We have very good sides and I believe the best team will make it to the finals and lift the trophy. We are done with the preparations’ and several teams had arrived at the venue yesterday afternoon. There are teams who have been doing well from their Under-16 ranks and they are doing well again in the Open which shows they are nurturing talent.
“We had teams like Rio Tinto/Zhombe, Gwanda and Gutu who were in Chinhoyi for the Under-16 finals and they are here at Prince Edward as well. “There is also the coming on board of Gandawa from Masvingo who are new in the finals,” Macheka said.
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