THERE were no major surprises served at the Copa Coca-Cola provincial schools finals played on Friday with most traditional giants in both the boys and girls categories progressing to the national finals to be staged in Harare on July 18.
HENRY MHARA
Defending champions Chemhanza, Pamushana, Mzingwane, Churchill and Mzilikazi High Schools were some of the big names that went through to the finals of the boys Under 16 and are favourites to win this year’s title.
Chemhanza were guaranteed a spot in the finals as defending champions although they took part in the provincial finals which they won easily by beating Mukondwa in the final match, who qualified as representatives of Mashonaland East.
Just like Mashonaland East, Harare Province will also have two teams at the finals. Churchill are through by virtue of being hosts, while Oriel qualified after winning the provincial finals, beating Mabvuku through a penalty shoot-out in the match played at Oriel.
Mzilikazi, the school famed for producing some of the best talent in the country — the Ndlovu brothers Peter, Madinda and Adam and the Ngodzo brothers Joel and Johannes — are also back at the finals after a brief spell in the wilderness.
The three time Copa Coca-Cola champions earned the ticket to the finals when they defeated Gifford High 2-0 in the final.
Pamushana, the 2007 title winners and 2012 champions Mzingwane of Matabeleland South also made it to the finals and their availability will surely provide some several intriguing matchups at the finals.
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With the draw for the national finals having already been made at the tournament’s launch early this year, there are some mouth-watering ties to look forward to.
Chemhanza and Pamushana will go head to head in Group A which also has Chipadze while another big clash waits in Group D between Churchill and Mzingwane.
But very little was known of Chemhanza High before they arrived at the national finals in Mutare last year, but they went on to win the title and it would be folly for the traditional giants to completely rule out little known teams like Chipadze (Mashonaland Central), Vimbai (Mashonaland West) and Chinonge of Matabeleland North, most of them who will be making their debut appearance at the finals.
In the girls Under-17 category, Chidyamakono of Masvingo and two time champions Vainona High of Harare who played in the finals last year will be huge favourites to win the title again this year.
Chidyamakono are the defending champions while Vainona eased through to the finals with compressive wins at the provincial finals. They beat Mbare High 4-0 in the finals.
Hosts
Boys Under 16 Group A: Chemhanza (Defending champions), Masvingo (Pamushana), Mash Central (Chipadze).
Group B: Harare (Oriel), Bulawayo (Mzilikazi), Midlands (to be decided on July 4).
Group C: Mash East (Mukondwa), Mat North (Chinonge), Manicaland (Mutare Boys High).
Group D: Churchill (hosts), Mash West (Vimbai), Mat South (Mzingwane).
Girls Under 17 Group A: Roosevelt (Hosts), Mat South (Mzimuni), Mash Central (St Francis).
Group B: Mash East (to be decided on July 11), Bulawayo (Magwegwe), Masvingo (Chidzikwe).
Group C: Midlands (to be decided on July 4), Chidyamakono (defending champs), Mat North (Chilisa). Group D: Harare (Vainona), Manicaland (Nyamaruru), Mash West (Sodbury).
