BULAWAYO will this weekend host schools from around the country in the Copa Coca-Cola football finals at Barbourfields Stadium.
Gifford High School and Montrose High School are the hosts of the tournament, which will see schools from the country’s 10 provinces taking part.
BY THANDIWE MOYO
Head in charge of soccer in Bulawayo John Nzima said they were ready for the country’s biggest schools football tournament.
“Everything is in place. We are ready to host the schools tournament. It might have been a long time since we last hosted the tournament, but we are definitely ready,” he said.
Schools that are expected to take part are Gifford, Mpopoma from Bulawayo, Tsholotsho, How Mine, Dewure, Nemakonde, Mutare, Guinea Fowl, Bernard Mizeki, Prince Edward and Rujeko in the boys’ category.
Gifford qualified by virtue of being the hosts while Chemhanza of Mashonaland East are the defending champions in the boys’ category.
In the girls’ section, Dinyane, Selonga, Mwenezi, Sodbury, Nyamauru, Masase, Furamera, Seke and St Francis will take part with Montrose qualifying as hosts.
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In Group A Rujeko will play against Mutare and Mpopoma while Chemhanza, who were last year’s winners, were drawn against Prince Edward and Nemakonde in Group B.
Dewure has Guinea Fowl and Gifford in Group C, and in Group D Tsholotsho, How Mine and Benard Mizeki will battle it out.
In the girls’ category Furamera Selonga and Chidyamakono were drawn in Group A, in Group B are Sodbury, Mwenezi and Seke 1 High while in C are Masase, Montrose and Dinyane and the last group has St Francis, Magwegwe and Nyamauru.
Gifford coach Nathan Tshuma said they were ready to take part in the competition.
“We have a fair team this year and we are ready for the competition. We are going in as hosts but we still hope that we will succeed and make it to the final. We are not under pressure at the moment because we are not the champions,” he said.
Tshuma said they had a number of players that they were hoping will make an impact in the tournament who include Tafadzwa Dhliwayo, Wellington Ndlovu and Michael Moyo.
Mpopoma also said they were ready to represent Bulawayo in the tournament.
“So far we are working hard to put everything in order. We will try our best to get the cup to remain in Bulawayo,” said head coach Misheck Maphosa.
Some of the players that will be in the team include Nathaniel Moyo, Mthokozisi Maphosa, Mongameli Tshuma, Lexington Mujokoro and Shalon Murechu.
