adminPaul Mundandi Zvishavane Sports Correspondent
ZVISHAVANE High School has promised to brew a shocker in the Copa Coca-Cola Under-16 soccer tournament that kicks of next week at Sakubva High School in Mutare. “It is our first time to qualify for the cup and we are going to pose a serious challenge for other schools. We know soccer is played on the field but with the players we have we need to bring back the cup to the Midlands.
“Manunure flew the Midlands flag high in 2011. As the only representatives of the Midlands we feel we should not let down because the entire province will be looking at us,” said Jerryfanos Ndawi, the Zvishavane High School coach.
“Our teams in the Premier Soccer League, FC Platinum and Shabanie Mine have been doing well in the league and BancABC Cup and have qualified for the semi-finals. We also want to show people out there that Zvishavane is slowly becoming the hub of soccer in Zimbabwe and this has been proven by our qualification,” he said.
The Midlands team is in Pool A and they will face defending champions Mzingwane, winners of the 2012 edition before clashing with Ngezi Barracks.
Zvishavane and Mandava, the only two major secondary schools in Zvishavane town, received donations of football kit and balls from FC Platinum at the beginning of the year.
They have also been getting some technical expertise from Shabanie Mine juniors coach over the years and this has slowly helped in the moulding of players in the small mining town.
The road to qualification was however not so easy for the school that nurtured the likes of Victor Mutandavari, Tongai Magwendere (Hippo Valley), Simon Shoko (FC Platinum), William Ngonya (Shabanie Mine) Milton Chapo and Marshall Marime of Chicken Inn.
Zvishavane had a gruelling semi-final against Mnene High School and their goalkeeper Shingirai Chamanga was the hero as he saved three penalties to send his team to the finals after winning 4-1.
The team boasts of deadly striker Darlington Muisa, Markmore Mpofu and Lesley Phiri, Charles Masona, John Phiri and Ibadi Saidi, a midfielder.
Boys’ Under-16s draw
Pool A: Mzingwane, Ngezi Barracks, Zvishavane
Pool B: Gaza, Hwange, Gifford
Pool C: Sakubva One, Mwenezi, Chemanza
Pool D: Gwanda, Howard, Churchill
Girls Under -17
Pool A: Vainona, Selonga, Mosi-oa-Tunya
Pool B: Matinunura, Rutanhira, Sakubva One
Pool C: Sodibury, Masotsha, Mbare
Pool D: Rukweza, St Francis, Chidyamakono
Online Reporter