Mzingwane High School sneaked one goal past 2007 Copa Coca-Cola Champions Pamushana to clinch the coveted Under-16 boys title at Chinotimba Stadium in Victoria falls yesterday.
In the girls section Vainona High School successfully defended the Copa Coca-Cola title after beating Chidyamakono 2-0 in the final.
Mzingwane and Vainona received floating trophies and $6 500 and $3 000 respectively.
Mzingwane captain Innocent Chifamba scored the only goal which could easily have won the goal of the tournament award.
Chifamba scored from a deadball situation just two metres from the centre line when his speculative shot surprised the Pamushana goalkeeper Sean Arimose.
With Arimose anticipating that it would go wide the well struck shot caught him by surprise when it nestled inside the far left corner of the net.
Vainona got their first goal from the inspirational captain Greater Bande while the second came from Tinotenda Sadziwa. Bande was named the Player of the Tournament.
Vainona coach Langton Kagwere was ecstatic over the victory.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
“I am happy we successfully defended the title.
We believe in continuity as most of our players are between the ages of 14 and 15. Most of the players play in the Harare Central Football League and Women’s Super League so that also helped us. We will be retaining the bulk of our players for next year’s competition,” he said.
Prosper Manzungu from Vainona received the Best Coach Award in the girls’ category while Mzingwane coach Bekezela Mavundla was awarded the Coach of the Tournament in the boys’ category.
They both pocketed $200 each.
“I would like to express my gratitude for the Copa Coca-Cola title. I would like to thank the boys for giving it their best shot. I would like to dedicate the trophy to six of our boys who were vetted out especially Rodger Gangeni but he is an Under-14.
“We were under siege, but we were able to win because we have experienced players who dropped back to assist in the midfield and defended as well,” he said.
Excelling players were also awarded various prizes which carried $100.
The Best Goalkeeper accolade went to Paul Makotore who saved Mzingwane making numerous saves in the final.
