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Copa Coca Cola: Mzilikazi confident

Sport
MZILIKAZI High School boys Under-16 football team coach Mgcini Ncube is confident his side will go past the group stages in this year’s edition of the Copa Coca-Cola national finals.

MZILIKAZI High School boys Under-16 football team coach Mgcini Ncube is confident his side will go past the group stages in this year’s edition of the Copa Coca-Cola national finals set for Harare this weekend.

SPORTS CORRESPONDENT

The four-time Copa Coca-Cola champions will be carrying Bulawayo’s hopes having dethroned Gifford courtesy of two early first half goals from Shadreck Nyawha and skipper Gift Lunga, son of former Highlanders player Gift Lunga Junior in the provincial finals held at Gifford.

Ncube yesterday told our sister paper Southern Eye Sport that his side’s preparations for the finals are on track.

“We have been preparing very hard for the games and the team is ready for the challenge. As part of our preparations, we played two friendly games last week, drawing 1-1 against Sobukazi High and beating Bantu Rovers 1-0. I have no injury concerns for my team as all the players are fit,” Ncube said.

After years of absence from the national finals, Mzilikazi will be looking to make history by being the first side to win the Copa Coca-Cola title five times having won it in 1989, 1993, 1999 and 2001 when it was still an Under-20 tournament.

“Our main aim heading to the finals is that we will be looking to score early goals so as to keep our chances of advancing past the group stages alive. We are targeting to reach the semi-finals and after that then we will see what happens,” Ncube said.

Much will be expected of Mzilikazi goal minder Nkosilathi Dlamini who will play a crucial role in his side’s campaign after keeping a clean sheet in the all the games played provincial finals.

“One of my concerns is that some of the boys are not used to playing at that stage of the competition and that may affect their confidence as well as playing in front of big crowds. So we have been working on the team’s confidence and trying to pump the boys to boost their confidence as they will be playing on a big stage,” Ncube added.

Mzilikazi, who also won the inaugural edition of the tournament boasts of having produced some of the best football players in the country with the likes of the legendary Peter Ndlovu, Mkhokheli Dube, Vusumuzi Nyoni  and Johannes Ngodzo among others having come through their ranks.

Some of the names from Mzilikazi that will be expected to shine at the big stage this weekend include the Bantu Rovers youngster Nyawha who also was the top goal scorer at the provincial finals, Mthokozisi Msebe and Lunga. The Bulawayo representatives are will be battling it out in Pool B against Harare’s representatives and the Midlands champions.