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SMILE OF WINNERS . . . Players from Mamunyadza celebrate winning the 2017 Copa Coca-Cola Under-15 girls Manicaland finals over the weekend

Ellina Mhlanga Sports Reporter
HARARE Province head-in-charge of football Ropafadzo Matemavi says they are going for the championship at the Copa Coca-Cola Under-15 boys and girls tournament in Bindura this month.

The province will be represented by Oriel Boys High and Vainona High at the national competition on July 21 and 22 after they emerged winners at the provincial finals on Saturday at Vainona.

Oriel Boys are returning to the national event for the second time after their maiden appearance in 2014 and Vainona are former champions in the girls category.

Oriel beat Marlborough 1-0 with Tinevimbo Madzitire on target while Vainona beat Glenview 1, 2-0.

Vainona missed last year’s national finals when they lost 2-4 on penalties to Mabelreign Girls High, who went on to reach the quarter-finals in Gwanda.

Matemavi said while Oriel’s victory came as a surprise, they were happy with the quality of representatives.

“The games went on very well. The level of competition and organisation was very high. We started in good time and the games also ended in good time.

“But, in the boys it was quite a surprise, nobody thought Oriel and Marlborough would end up in the finals.

“There were big guns like Prince Edward and Churchill, but football is round and it can roll in any direction.

“We are quite confident as Harare that we won’t come back empty-handed. We are going to give people a run for their money,” said Matemavi.

Oriel reached the 2014 finals, but lost to Chemhanza and Matemavi believes they now know what to expect at that level.

“We knew it was going to come one way or another because we are investing, but we never thought it was going to be so soon.

“We have a policy where we give some scholarships to good footballers at Form One, in every group we take about 10 and we try and develop that talent. So we thought it was going to be a five-year project, but we have already started reaping results. We are quite happy as Oriel,” Matemavi said.

Oriel and Vainona will join defending champions Rujeko and Chidyamakono as well as hosting schools Chipindura and Herman Gmeiner.

Chidyamakono have won the girls tournament four times since 2013.

Provincial Winners

Boys: Oriel Boys High (Harare), Takwirira (Manicaland), Kundayi (Mashonaland Central), Sabiwa (Matabeleland South), Lobengula (Bulawayo), Rusununguko (Mashonaland East), Tohwe (Matabeleland North), Pfupajena (Mashonaland West), Gorge Chipadza (Midlands).

Girls: Vainona (Harare), Mamunyadza (Manicaland), Rushinga (Mashonaland Central), Tongwe (Matabeleland South), Mwenezi (Masvingo), Mpopoma (Bulawayo), Parirewa (Mashonaland East), Somvubu (Matabeleland North), Sodbury (Mashonaland West), Guinea Fowl (Midlands).