Ellina Mhlanga Sports Reporter
PRINCE Edward and Vainona are Harare’s representatives for this year’s Copa Coca-Cola Under-15 boys and girls national finals after they came out tops during yesterday’s provincial finals at Lord Malvern High School.

The national event will run from July 12 to 14 in Zvishavane and most of the provinces, including Harare, had their provincial finals yesterday.

Prince Edward dismissed Kuwadzana 2, 5-0 in the final to earn their place at the national event.

Tadiwa Masukuta was their player of the day with a hat-trick in the final while Luke Musikiri and Steven Chatikobo weighed in with a goal each.

Prince Edward coach Pathias Mauto was full of praise for his side that did not concede even a goal during yesterday’s games.

“I give credit to my defence for finishing the whole tournament without conceding even a goal.

“And my lethal strikers for finishing the tournament scoring an average of two goals per every match, we played.

“I think they did very well and going to the nationals, we are not going there just to make numbers, we are targeting that big trophy of Coca-Cola,” said Mauto.

Prince Edward topped Group A after winning all their matches.

They then beat arch-rivals Churchill 4-0 in the semi-finals, while Kuwadzana 2 defeated Tafara 1, 1-0 in the other semi.

Churchill progressed as the best runners up. In the girls section, two-time champions Vainona pulled through when they beat Seke 1, 3-1.

The two teams had earlier on met in the group games, in Group C, and Seke 1 had won 2-1. Vainona progressed to the semi-finals as the best runners-up and they upped their game in the finals to come out the better team.

Vainona coach Herbert Mugumwa said they were the better team in the final.

“I think their mistake was we played them in the group stages, they beat us 2-1. So we came to the final as best runners-up.

“They were a bit complacent, so that was our advantage. They were complacent and did not work as hard as they did in the group stages.

“The competition was stiff. I am happy that most schools are now taking girls soccer seriously unlike in previous years when we started in 2011, just a few schools were playing girls soccer.

“But now almost all schools are playing girls soccer, so competition is now stiff.

“I am happy we have managed to come out winners in this stiff competition,” Mugumwa said.

Vainona dismissed Dzivarasekwa 2 High 1-0 in the last four, while Seke beat Marlborough 3-2 on penalties.

The match had ended 1-1 in regulation time.

Prince Edward will be seeking their first title going into this year’s national event, while Vainona are hoping to find their winning formula that saw them winning the title in 2011 and 2012.

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