Online Reporter
Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
ANGLICAN Diocese of Manicaland-run St Mathias Tsonzo High School gave a fine account of themselves at the just-ended National Association of Secondary School Heads (NASH) Under-17 Championships in Bulawayo, bowing out on penalties to highly rated Pamushana High.
The success is rooted in long-term planning.
Beyond school competitions, the institution runs St Mathias Tsonzo FC, a product of its football academy that competes in the ZIFA Eastern Region Division Two League.
The academy provides talented youngsters with a pathway to develop their skills, while balancing sporting ambition with academic excellence.
The diocese’s continued investment in education and sport bore fruit when St Mathias Tsonzo proudly flew Manicaland’s flag at the prestigious NASH national soccer finals, finishing as national runners-up after a remarkable campaign.
Anglican Diocese of Manicaland Bishop, Eric Ruwona said: “We are very proud of St Matthias U-17 soccer team for clinching the runners-up place at the NASH finals. It is a test of their resilience and proof of hard work. Our strategy to embrace Education 5.0 and run the team professionally has paid off. I hope the latest spate of good results will attract good sponsors. We now want our boys to link up with good coaches, teams and sponsors in Manicaland and the Premier League. Once again, I say congratulations to St Mathias High team, the head, teachers and staff. They all worked as a team under the leadership of the school principal, who is also an ardent supporter of the team.”
Representing Manicaland as provincial champions, St Mathias Tsonzo captured the imagination of football lovers with a series of determined display before narrowly missing the national title.
Known as The Stallions, Tsonzo lost 2-4 on penalties to Pamushana High in the finals.
This follows a goalless draw in regulation time. While the shootout heartbreak denied St Mathias a historic crown, it did little to diminish a memorable run.
The Stallions reached the semi-finals with a convincing 2-0 quarter-final victory over Hermann Gmeiner. They then showed remarkable composure to beat Nkulumane High 4-2 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in the last four.
Their performances reflected discipline, tactical maturity and the fighting spirit synonymous with the Anglican Church-run institution.
The achievement is another milestone for the diocese, whose deliberate investment in sport is now complementing its long-established academic record.
Meanwhile, the fourth edition of the GreenFuel Schools Football Tournament was contested in the Lowveld by Takwirira High, Katanga Secondary, Checheche High, Mutandahwe High, Chipangayi Secondary, Manzvire Secondary, Vheneka Secondary, Chinyamukwakwa Secondary and Rimbi Secondary.
Chibuwe High emerged victorious.
GreenFuel spokesperson, Merit Rumema, said: “The tournament’s intention is to create a safe environment for learners from indigent communities especially, to showcase talent, close the term and for some their school days with fun and games. It was also started to equip schools with kits as participating teams get full soccer kits. This year was the last edition. We are looking to a different approach going forward.”
