Masvingo dominate national schools sport

Sport
Masvingo province has dominated schools sport in the country, scooping three National Association of Secondary Heads [Nash] trophies.

Masvingo province has dominated schools sport in the country, scooping three National Association of Secondary Heads [Nash] trophies.

By Nyambira Chivasa

The latest trophy to land in Masvingo is the Stella Tea Nash Under-17 netball trophy won by Pamushana High School of Bikita. The tournament was held at Nyameni High School in Marondera last week.

Pamushana girls have won the trophy for the fourth consecutive time, making it a preserve of Masvingo since 2011. This time they beat Sikhulile High School from Bulawayo 26-21 in the final. Pamushana pocketed $4 400 for the victory.

Chidyamakono High School, also of Masvingo retained the Copa Coca Cola Under-17 girls’ football tournament trophy, also for the third time in a row. This time around, Chidyamakono beat Mashonaland Central representatives St Francis 1-0 in the finals at Barbourfields in Bulawayo last week.

For winning the trophy three times in a row, Chidyamakono has forced the sponsors to look for another trophy as the one that they have won three times is now theirs to keep for good. They pocketed $3 000 cash and a Coca Cola branded football kit.

Dewure High School, also from Masvingo, finally quenched their five-year trophy drought in spectacular fashion.

They lifted this year’s edition of the Copa Coca Cola trophy in Bulawayo last week. Dewure dismissed Mashonaland Central province representatives Rujeko 4-3 on penalty shootouts after regulation time had failed to produce a winner. The teams had settled for a three-all draw. Dewure walked away with $6 500, a trophy and a Coca Cola branded football kit.

Masvingo province has won the much coveted Nash Copa Coca-Cola tournament a record 11 times, more than any other province in the country.

Hippo Valley High School (Masvingo), won it in 1990, 1991, 1996 and 1997 while Mashoko High School (Masvingo) took it once in 1995. Pamushana High School were crowned champions in 2007 while Dewure, the current champions, also won it in 2010.

In the girls category Chidyamakono won it three times in a row, from 2013 to 2015.

Chidyamakono, Pamushana and Dewure have booked their slots into various Nash competitions in 2016 since they will qualify automatically as defending champions.

Chidyamakono coach Yeukai Chiruvu attributed the success of her team to commitment, a sound and thriving junior policy and the support they get from the business community.

“We have managed to retain the title due to commitment, hard work and the support we get from the local community,” Chiruvu said. She added, “Since we have already qualified for the 2016 edition of the tournament, we will work extra hard to defend the title once again.”

Dewure High school coach, Paul Mahutu said competition at provincial level was actually tougher than at national level. “Competition in Masvingo is actually tougher than at national level. What we normally know is that when you compete and manage to win at provincial level then it becomes easier at national level,” said Mahutu.

Johnson Madhuku, Pamushana High School head said his team had already started training with the aim to retain the title. “We will work very hard to keep the trophy. The competition was stiff at national level but we managed to sail through. This augments our pledge to keep the Stella Tea Trophy a preserve of Masvingo province,” Madhuku said.

Chibi High School is the province’s representative in the Arenel Nash Under-17 football tournament that is currently underway in Harare and they have promised to bring the trophy home.

However, it remains to be seen which school will come tops to represent the province in Population Service International’s Ngena/Pinda Mu smart Nash Under-20 boys soccer tournament to be held in the capital on August 25 2015.