adminEllina Mhlanga Sports Reporter
AFTER missing last year’s Copa Coca-Cola boys Under-16 and girls Under-17 football tournament, Pamushana are hoping to make a strong comeback when they take part in the national finals starting tomorrow in Highfield.
The former champions made a surprise exit last year in the provincial finals.
Pamushana won the title in 2007 and will be part of the 24 teams that will converge in Harare this weekend for the national finals of the schools flagship football tournament.
Pamushana coach, Bernard Matenga, said they have adequately prepared for the tournament and they are here to compete.
“We have made enough preparations. We are ready to take any challenge at national level. I think we are one of teams to beat there.
“We have the confidence to take any team. We are not worried with other teams but I think they should be worried about us.
“Last year we did not make it to the nationals finals, we lost at provincial level. It was one of those bad years, we hope to make it to the final. We are targeting the trophy so we are looking forward to winning,” said Matenga.
Matenga said they hope to live up to expectations, especially coming from Masvingo, which is regarded as one of the provinces with strong teams when it comes to this tournament.
“Of course, the pressure is there. Being former champions is pressure itself, people expect much from us. We are expected to deliver. We have a reputation to protect and we have to prove ourselves.
“However, the pressure is on us as the coaches. We don’t want to put any of it on the players, we know it’s difficult but we try to contain it,” said Matenga.
Pamushana will take on defending champions, Chemhanza and Chipadze from Mashonaland Central in Pool A.
This year also marks the return of four-time champions Mzilikazi and Churchill, who have also won the title four times.
Pamushana will be joined by girls’ title holders Chidyamakono and provincial winners Chidzikwe in representing Masvingo.
Chidyamakono dismissed former champions, Vainona in last year’s final, to clinch the title.
Chidyamakono coach Yeukai Chiruvu said they were banking their hopes on some of the players in the team who participated in the event last year.
“We are prepared to defend the title since some of our players, who played last year, are still there and they have imparted that exposure to some of the new players coming into the team.
“We have worked hard on our team and they have been exposed to the competition before. In the game of football there is always a winner and a loser but we don’t expect to lose,” said Chiruvu.
Chidyamakono will lock horns with Chilisa from Matabeleland North and Gato from Midlands in the preliminary rounds in Pool C.
The top two teams will progress to the quarter finals.
Boys Pools
Pool A: Chemhanza (Mashonaland East), Chipadze (Mashonaland Central), Pamushana (Masvingo).
Pool B: Oriel Boys (Harare), Mzilikazi (Bulawayo), Cheziya (Midlands).
Pool C: Mukondwa (Mashonaland East), Chinonge (Matabeleland North), Mutare Boys High (Manicaland).
Pool D: Churchill (Harare), Vimbai (Mashonaland) West, Mzingwane (Matabeleland South).
Girls Pools
Pool A: Roosevelt (Harare), Muzimuni (Matabeleland South), St Francis (Mashonaland Central).
Pool B: Chidzikwe (Masvingo), Magwegwe (Bulawayo), Mwanza (Mashonaland East).
Pool C: Chidyamakono (Masvingo), Chilisa (Matabeleland North), Gato (Midlands).
Pool D: Vainona (Harare), Nyamaruru (Manicaland), Sodbury (Mashonaland West).
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