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Ellina Mhlanga Sports Reporter
CHURCHILL A put up a brilliant performance on Saturday to defend their title when they beat Kwekwe High in an Under-20 handball tournament held at their school.

The tournament, which is organised by Churchill, attracts boys and girls schools from across the country.

And this was the ninth year since its inception.

The hosts beat their rivals Kwekwe High 9-4 to retain the Under-20 boys title.

The two schools have been meeting in the finals for the past three years and Churchill have proved to be the better team in all the three occasions they have clashed.

Churchill A defeated Sodbury 7-0 in the semi-finals while Kwekwe beat Churchill B side 7-5 to progress to the finals.

The girls’ title went to Girls High School.

They beat Gokomere 11-5 in the finals.

Girls High, who are regarded as a powerhouse in schools handball, had earlier on dismissed Regina Mundi 9-1 in the semi-finals.

Gokomere prevailed over Hatfield 7-4 in the other semi-final match.

Churchill team manager, Clayton Shereni, said although the numbers of participating schools dropped this year, the quality of the tournament was high.

“This year it has actually improved, we saw some quality handball and it shows that the schools are playing handball. As compared to last year, this year the competition was high.

“The numbers compared to the previous years dropped down mainly because most schools were saying they were having difficulties in accessing cash. But despite those challenges the level of competition was high.

“Of late we had schools like Rujeko from Mashonaland Central, Prince Edward from Harare and Howard from Mashonaland East dominating but we are seeing new schools coming up. If we look at schools like Sodbury and Chinhoyi, they have been underdogs in the past. But Sodbury this year they got a bronze medal.

“And it’s only in the finals where there were no changes, where Churchill and Kwekwe have been in the finals for the past three years.

“And Churchill have been getting the better of Kwekwe. Even at Nash level Churchill are dominating with Kwekwe coming second,” said Shereni.

Shereni said they are hoping to make the event bigger in the future and invite schools from other countries as it has proved to be a success.

“We are actually trying to make it big whereby we move it from being a one-day tournament to three days, from Friday to Sunday. Maybe next year we can make it bigger and invite schools from outside Zimbabwe,” said Shereni.

The tournament featured 30 schools — 18 boys’ schools and 12 girls’ schools.