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Senior Sports Reporter
SIXTEEN primary schools will participate in the Ingwebu Breweries National Association of Primary Schools Heads (Naph) Matabeleland South provincial finals at Maphisa Business Centre today.

The schools are from the province’s eight districts and they will battle it out for the ticket to represent Matabeleland South in the regional finals set for the same venue on July 31.

The regional finals will bring together provincial winners from Matabeleland North, Matabeleland South and Bulawayo.

Each district is fielding a boys’ and girls’ team after Ingwebu took a huge initiative towards promoting the girl child by fully sponsoring the girls’ competition for the first time since the competition was launched in 1994.

Mkhaliphe Primary School from Gwanda South, Butshe Primary from Bulilima, Umzingwane district’s Longfield Primary are among the favourites for the provincial title in the girls’ competition.

Bulawayo, who won last year’s regional tournament, will have their provincial finals at White City Stadium on Friday next week while Matabeleland North holds its event on July 17.

Ingwebu Breweries, who have been the major sponsors of ball game competitions in Bulawayo, Matabelaland North and Matabeleland South provinces since 1994, are bankrolling this year’s tournament to the tune of $34,975.

The grand final winners in the boys’ category are set to pocket $2,500 while the girls will walk away with $2,000.

Each of the three provincial winners will get $1,200 while the losing finalists get $1,000 and third placed $800. The girls’ champions will receive $1,000, losing finalists $800 and third placed $600.

Robert Tredgold Primary School of Bulawayo are the defending champions after they beat Malunku 2-1 in the final played at the Jotsholo Grounds in 2014.

Qualifying teams from Mat South:

Boys: Tongwe (Beitbridge), Mkhaliphe (Gwanda South), Nkazhe (Gwanda North), Nkwalini (Insiza), Butshe (Bulilima), Sanzukwi (Mangwe), Zwehamba (Matobo), How Mine (Umzingwane)

Girls: Beitbridge Government Primary School (Beitbridge), Mkhaliphe (Gwanda South), Magedleni (Gwanda North), Mthwakazi (Insiza), Butshe (Bulilima), Brunapeg (Mangwe), St Sebastian (Matobo), Longfield (Umzingwane)