Plumtree Primary Schools tourney comes alive

Raymond Jaravaza
THE Copa Coca Cola aï¿½ï¿½ arguably the biggest junior schoolboy football tournament in the country aï¿½ï¿½ has come and gone.

But in Plumtree this time of the year is when local primary schools in the Bulilima District clash in the annual Jonah Schools Tournament with R30 000 up for grabs.

Six primary schools Tshangwa, Diba, Phumuza, Bezu, Mlomwe and the hosts Nyabane will on Friday (today) battle it out for bragging rights to be crowned the 2017 Jonah Schools Tournament champions.

The tourney has been running since 2011.

aï¿½?Every year in August primary schoolboys in our district look forward to the annual Jonah Schools Tournament and this year the total sponsorship have been increased to R30 000 in addition to individual awards for outstanding players.

aï¿½?The winners will receive R5 000 while the losing finalists will get R4 000. All the teams will receive the same amount which is still to be decided,aï¿½? said organising committee member Mthandazo Hikwa, who is also a teacher at Nyabane Primary School.

Last year the tourney was won by Tshangwa after beating Nyabane 4-3 on penalties.

An underprivileged but talented schoolboy from the participating schools will be selected to receive one year tuition fees from the sponsor of the tourney aï¿½ï¿½ South Africa-based businessman Jonathan Ndlovu.
Ndlovu also sponsors Division Two side Mainline FC, the only team from the border town that competes in the Bulawayo Province Division Two League.

aï¿½?Since the tournament started in 2011 all schools that take part now have decent football kits and that boosts the morale of our young boys.

The community also appreciates that such tournaments are important in nurturing talented young players,aï¿½? added Hikwa.