CHEMHANZA High School of Mashonaland East and Chidyamakono of Masvingo Province are winners of this year’s edition of the Copa Coca-Cola Under-16 boys and Under-17 girls competition respectively, whose finals were held at Mutare’s Sakubva Stadium yesterday.
FROM HENRY MHARA IN MUTARE
Chemhanza, debutant at the finals beat Howard High School 3-1, while last year’s girls finalists Chidyamakono got their revenge on Vainona, beating the defending champions 2-0.
Lenon Bvochora was the hero for the boys winners after netting a brace for his team to add on to Takura Chipembere’s opener, while Tryfffin Muzemba also got a brace for the girls winners.
Tafadzwa Nhundu scored a consolation goal for Howard. The finals were attended by football personalities including former Warriors greats Norman Mapeza, John Phiri and Desmond Maringwa.
There was, however, no representation from the national team junior coaches at the tournament. Bvochora, the top goal-scorer with five goals said, “These are the fruits for hard work. We worked hard to be where we are today. I’m very happy for myself, my coaches, the school and the province. I also want to thank God for everything. We worked as a team from the start to the end.”
Chemhanza got $6 500 for their efforts, while Chidyamakono got $3 000.
The player of the tournament (boys) went to Washington Parira, the captain of the winning team, while Chidyamakono goalie Priviledge Jeke was voted the finest player in the girls category.
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Chemhanza, who arrived in Mutare as underdogs dominated their group matches, beating hosts Sakubva and Mwenezi without conceding a goal.
They walloped Zvishavane High 4-0 in the quarter-finals and they almost got their match in the finals in Harare’s Churchill.
The two teams were tied at 2-2 in regulation time before eventually winning 4-3 after a penalty shoot-out.
In the final match, the Never Mhandu-coached side dominated the match with showy tricks on the ball and some clever routines against a Howard side who gave little resistance.
Chipembere headed in a goal from a cross in the right before Bvochora converted from the spot. Nhundu pulled one early in the second half, but Bvochora killed off the contest late in the match with a clever lobbying ball over the goalkeeper.
Sakubva won the third and fourth play-off match after beating pretournament favourites Churchill 2-1, while Selonga got the silver medal after beating St Francis.
Defending champions Mzingwane were booted out in the quarters by Sakubva after a penalty shoot-out.
