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Coordinator of the inaugural tournament, former Premier Soccer League chief executive officer Chris Sambo, confirmed the latest development which is set to bring new excitement into schools sport.
“The tournament is definitely there, we are just waiting for confirmation of the official launch day from the Office of the President but otherwise everything is smooth sailing,” said Sambo.
Provinces are expected to hold their provincial finals on 14 September with the winners proceeding to the national finals at Kutama High School in Mashonaland West province. Kutama High School is President Mugabe’s former school.
Nash head-in-charge of soccer in Matabeleland North, Lunguza Ndlovu also confirmed the inaugural schools tournament to be launched by President Mugabe, who is also the Head of State and Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces.
“We should be having the official launch of this great tournament anytime and it’s most likely to be held in Harare but I can confirm that the finals will be held at Kutama College from 21-23 September.
The provincial finals will be held on the 14th of the same month,” said Ndlovu.
He could however not reveal the sponsorship package saying that will be made known at the official launch, before referring further questions to national head-in-charge, Albert Mucheka, who also confirmed the coming in of the new package.
Presidential spokesman, George Charamba however said he was not yet aware of the development.
“It has not come to my attention as yet, maybe they made the request through a different office. Sorry I can not help you on that one,” he said.
Meanwhile, all the districts from the country’s 10 provinces are tomorrow and Friday expected to hold the M and H Under-17 boys as well as the Coca-Cola Under-16 boys and Under-17 girls district finals.
Hwange District will hold their M and H finals at Dampa Secondary School with the Coca-Cola district finals set for Old Stadium in Lwendulu suburb on Friday.
Winners of the 2011 edition of the Coca-Cola Under-16 boys trophy, Manunure High School in Kwekwe, will play host to the official launch of the competition set for Friday next week.
The finals will be used as a selection event for teams that will represent the provinces in the national finals of the two tournaments.
Ndlovu said the M and H finals will be held at Churchill High School in Harare from 20-22 July with the Coca-Cola finals set for Mosi-oa-Tunya High School in the resort town of Victoria Falls on 27-29 July.
“Our Under-20 girls will have their national finals, sponsored by Nash on 6-8 July in the Mashonaland Central capital, Bindura, with provincial finals set for the end of next month,” said Ndlovu who is the headmaster of Chilisa Secondary School in Hwange.
The Under-20 girls tournament that could provide players for the national Under-20 and the Mighty Warriors, has no sponsorship.
Marange Resources early this year unveiled a $3 million sponsorship package for women’s football which is for the national women’s league, the national Under-20 and the Mighty Warriors.
Online Reporter