adminTawanda Mangoma, Lowveld Correspondent
EIGHTY Reformed Church in Zimbabwe soccer teams are battling it out in knockout stages of the Nyaningwe Supermarket-sponsored soccer tournament dubbed the Rangano Huru Championships.The tournament with a $15,000 sponsorship package saw 60 teams being eliminated during the preliminary rounds last week and the remaining 20 will fight to play in the finals which will be held at Mucheke Stadium in Masvingo on May 24.
Teams that managed to sail through into the finals will be slotted into four groups at a draw that will be held tomorrow in Harare.
Each group will see two teams progressing to the quarter-finals with four squaring up in the semis.
The final 20 include Ushe from Bikita, Nyajena from Morgenster, Bethel from Alheit in Gutu, Chivi, Pamushana from Bikita and Jichidza from Zaka.
From the Midlands there is Senga from Gweru, Mbizo from Kwekwe, Zvishavane with Bulawayo represented by Nkulumane.
Four teams will represent Harare Province and these are Highfields, Kuwadzana, Seke and Hatcliffe.
Hosts Rujeko from Masvingo and Nyaningwe the sponsors’ team earned an automatic entry into this year’s edition.
Defending champions Zimuto from Masvingo and a guest team from South Africa will join the rest as automatic qualifiers.
Tournament co-ordinator David Masomere said all is set for Mucheke Stadium where the finals will be played.
“The tournament is all about sports evangelism. We are holding our draw for the 20 teams who qualified for the finals this Sunday in Harare at RCZ Warren Park D. We will come up with four groups which will see each providing two teams for the semi-finals. The winners will then make it to the finals,” said Masomere.
The top two teams will proceed to the final which are scheduled for May 24-25.
Online Reporter