adminJillian Shava Sports Reporter
SECONDARY schools from Bulawayo’s five districts compete in the National Association of Secondary Schools Heads (Nash) provincial netball tournament at Ihlathi High school today.
The provincial tournament serves as a schools’ qualifiers for the national tournament to be held at a later date.
The event had initially been set for White City Stadium but was shifted to Ihlathi High for financial reasons.
Each district will field two teams for the provincial games. Sikhulile High, Msitheli High, Sobukhazi High, Luveve High, Townsend High, Hamilton High, Emganwini High, Amhlophe High, Pumula High and Ncubhatha High will join defending champions Mpopoma High to fight for the sole provincial ticket to represent the province at national level.
Sobukhazi High netball coach Sibusiso Ncube said they had prepared thoroughly for the tournament and losing was not an option.
“We’ve practised hard enough for this tournament and we hope to just cruise through the group stages to the finals. The only issue we’re facing is the national identity requirement. Learners without IDs get temporary documents that however expire. We’re leaving two of our best players out of the team because of this issue but nevertheless, the team’s still strong enough to see us through to the finals,” said Ncube.
The tournament requires that each learner produces a national ID, school ID and a birth certificate to compete as a way of preventing age cheating.
Online Reporter