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Nkosilathi Sibanda Sports Reporter
SCHOOLS that previously dominated the finals of the COPA Coca-Cola soccer tournament are slowly losing their grip on the grassroots football event, with rural schools emerging as the new powerhouses of the game.

The Under-16 boys’ and Under-17 girls’ provincial soccer finals countrywide indicated how rural schools are fast gaining ground in the sport.

Rivalry between rural and urban schools is now fiercer than ever before. The national finals, set for Bulawayo from 17-19 July, will be a mixture of rural and urban schools.

Schools that traditionally dominated the tournament, such as Mzilikazi, Lord Malvern, Cyrene, Churchill, Manunure, Hippo Valley, Mzingwane, Oriel Boys, Vainona and Pamushana, all failed to qualify for the boys’ national finals.

Even in the girls’ category, Chidyamakono Secondary and Vainona fell by the wayside this year paving way for a new order consisting of former underdogs.

In Matabeleland South, Selonga Secondary from rural Gwanda south were crowned the girls’ provincial winners, beating better resourced schools like Matopo, Phakamani, Manama and Thekwane.

Selonga were undeterred despite fielding some barefooted players. Their skill and composure ensured that they become the first girls’ team to represent Matabeleland South for the second time.

Selonga were last in the national finals in 2013 in Mutare. After causing a stir in 2013, the Gwanda school proved that women’s football was on the rise in the province. They head to the finals as one of the few teams yet to concede a goal.

Dinyane High of Tsholotsho, Matabeleland North province, also qualified for the girls national finals, beating the fancied Tsholotsho High, Chilisa of Hwange and Mosi oa Tunya of Victoria Falls.

National Association of Secondary School Heads (Nash) president Johnson Madhuku believes that the tournament has brought exposure to rural schools.

“Schools that are really serious about football now know the value of the COPA Coca-Cola competition. Schools in rural areas have seen this, which is why some are even channeling a lot of resources towards football. There are schools that have changed for the better because of COPA Coca Cola,” said Madhuku.

It would not be a surprise if the $6,500 prize for the boys’ and $3,000 for girls’ victors is pocketed by a rural school judging by the provincial finals’ results.

National finalists

Bulawayo: Magwegwe (Girls), Mpopoma (Boys); Matabeleland North: Dinyane (Girls), Tsholotsho (Boys); Matabeleland South: Selonga (Girls), How Mine (Boys); Masvingo: Mwenezi (Girls), Dewure (Boys); Mashonaland West: Sodbury (Girls), Nemakonde (Boys); Manicaland: Nyamauru (Girls), Mutare Boys High (Boys);Midlands: Guinea Fowl (Boys), Masase (Girls); Mashonaland East: Bernard Mizeki (Boys), Furamera (Girls), Harare: Prince Edward (Boys) Seke (Girls)

Mashonaland Central: St Francis (Girls), Rujeko (Boys)