Chronicle Editor
Nkosilathi Sibanda, [email protected]
PROVINCIAL representatives for the National Association of Secondary School Heads (Nash) Proton-Surrey 20 and Under tournament have started preparations for the national finals that get underway at Barbourfields Stadium this Friday.
The host school is Mzilikazi High and the event ends on Saturday.
Already, 12 schools have qualified and been drawn into four groups of three in what should be a tightly contested competition that has so far proved that there is no absolute favourite in schools’ football.
The hosts Mzilikazi High School have been slotted in Group D along with Wadzanani High of Mashonaland Central and Guinea Fowl of the Midlands.
Founders High School, who were runners up in Bulawayo were a surprise package to the finals and it was their first time to qualify to the finals of such a grand competition.
The school is in Pool C with defending champions Goromonzi High School of Mashonaland East and Harare’s Allan Wilson.
Matabeleland South’s representatives, Cresta College were another surprise entry, following their impressive performance last week at Colleen Bawn where they shrugged off competition from more established schools.
Crest College is in Group A and will battle it out against St Erica High (Mashonaland West) and Terry Goss High School (Masvingo).
High-riding Hwange High School take the road to play for honours representing Matabeleland North. They are in Group B with Muzokomba High School (Manicaland) and St Collins High School (Mashonaland East).
As the final matches near, Nash vice-president Cephas Mutumhe, in an interview with Zimpapers Sports Hub on Tuesday, said as a measure to curb age-cheating, all provincial winners will have to pass through a vetting process on Thursday.
“We now have the full list of participating provincial representatives. Twelve schools will descend on Bulawayo’s Barbourfields Stadium Grounds. At this stage, we are confident to say as Nash we are more than ready for the games.
“Let it be known that before the matches commence, all teams will undergo a thorough inspection so as to check if players are of the right age. We would not want a situation where we have to deal with age cheating allegations when the tournament has started,” said Mutumhe.
He said on the day of the final, a girls’ exhibition match will be played, as a way of promoting women’s football in the country.
“On October 7, we will have an exhibition match for an Under-20 girls’ match between the host school and a select team.”
Meanwhile, Mzilikazi High School coach, Khonzani “Mboma” Ncube has promised to assemble a team that will go all the way to grab the trophy.
“We have all it takes to use our home ground advantage. From the word go, we have not relaxed. We have been training so as to give our opponents as a tough time. The goal is to win the tournament,” said Ncube.
Newbies in the competition, Founders High School are hopeful of a great tournament. Their coach Mqondisi Ncube boldly declared that they also deserve to be counted among the best.
The teams:
Group A: St Eric’s High, Cresta College, Terry Goss High
Group B: Muzokomba High, St Collins High, Hwange High
Group C: Founders High, Goromonzi High, Allan Willson High
Group D: Wadzanai High, Guinea Fowl High, Mzilikazi High and Guinea Fowl
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