adminEllina Mhlanga Sports Reporter
NASH head in charge of football Albert Mucheka says they are ready for this year’s edition of the Copa Coca-Cola boys Under-16 and girls Under-17 football tournament national finals set for Gwanda this weekend.
The tournament which starts at the zonal level, reaches its climax this weekend, with 24 boys and girls teams expected to take part.
The finals are set to run from Friday to Sunday.
Participants are expected to be in Gwanda by Friday and the actual competition kicks-off on Saturday.
The group stages matches will be played at various venues while the finals which are scheduled for Sunday will be at Pelandaba stadium.
Mucheka said they are looking forward to another successful event when schools converge in Gwanda.
“Our expectation is that the tournament will be a success. We are expecting that players of the right age-group will come to Gwanda so that the teams play on the same footing.
“As usual we are expecting 100 percent participation from all provinces because Copa Coca-Cola is the biggest schools football tournament in the country and has got high prizes. And we are hoping the competition will be high because everyone wants to win the tournament.
“Every edition of the tournament is a big thing and it’s a new competition because we have new teams coming in every year. So there will be a lot of excitement because there will be new talent,” said Mucheka.
Gwanda High and Colleen Bawn are the hosting teams for the boys and girls teams respectively. They will be joined by defending champions Dewure and Chidyamakono from Masvingo and the 10 provincial winners at the national finals.
Matabeleland South will field four teams including the hosting schools and the two provincial winners — Mzingwane and Thekwane.
It’s the same for Masvingo, which is home to both the boys and girls defending champions. Their provincial winners are Pamushana and Rufaro.
Provincial Finalist
Boys: Churchill (Harare), Rujeko (Mashonaland Central), Chinhoyi High (Mashonaland West), Devuli (Manicaland), Sobukhazi (Bulawayo), Mzingwane (Matabeleland South), Tohwe (Matabeleland North), Chemhanza (Mashonaland East), Guinea Fowl (Midlands), Pamushana and Dewure (Masvingo).
Girls: Mabelreign Girls High (Harare), Gotora (Mashonaland East), Vimbai (Mashonaland West), Utongani (Midlands), Sojini (Matabeleland North), Chipadze (Mashonaland Central), Thekwane and Colleen Baw (Matabeleland South), Rufaro and Chidyamakono (Masvingo), Nyamauru (Manicaland), Magwegwe (Bulawayo).
Online Reporter