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SELONGA Secondary School yesterday became the first team to book a place in the Copa Coca-Cola national finals after winning the Matabeleland South provincial girls’ title at Matopo High School.

The Gwanda South-based school, which represented Matabeleland South at the 2013 national finals in Mutare, beat defending champions Mzimuni 2-0 in the final.

To reach the final, Selonga beat Malunguzdi 2-0 in the semi-final while Mzimuni dismissed Nswazi 3-1.

The Matabeleland South girls kicked off the provincial finals for the country’s biggest schools’ football fiesta at Matopo High yesterday, while the other nine provinces’ action gets underway today.

Provincial winners in the girls’ and boys’ sections will qualify for the national finals set for Bulawayo from July 17-19.

Eight schools, Matopo, Tongwe, Gwanda High, How Mine, Phakamani, Dombodema, Manama and Wanezi, will battle it out for the Matabeleland South boys’ finals at the Brethren-in-Christ Church run school today.

Meanwhile, Germany-bound Devine Khumalo will lead Mzilikazi High School’s Under-16 boys’ soccer team’s quest to successfully defend their provincial title at Gifford High School today.

Mzilikazi, inaugural winners of the tournament in 1989, will battle for the right to represent Bulawayo at the national finals against Milton, Mpopoma, St Bernard’s, Ncimbatho, Sobukhazi and Northlea.

Gifford, who have qualified for the national meet by virtue of being the host school, are only competing for the provincial crown.

Khumalo, who was selected alongside Harare’s Leeroy Willie to represent Zimbabwe at the Copa Coca-Cola international training camp that runs from July 26-31 in Germany, is expected to play a key role in Mzilikazi’s crown chase.

The Mzilikazi left winger is part of the remaining seven players, who include Gift Lunga Jnr, son of former Highlanders player Gift “Thebe” Lunga, goalkeeper Nkosilathi Dlamini, Tatenda Marisoni, Andrew Mbeba and Nigel Mangungwe, that lost in the semi-finals of the competition last year in Harare.

“We are ready for the provincial finals and the boys are geared up. Everyone is confident of making it through to the national finals,” said Bhekokuhle Dube, Mzilikazi’s headmaster.

Mzilikazi school grounds will host the girls’ tournament. Montrose, the girls’ national finals hosts, will use today’s matches to fine tune their squad against Nkulumane, Masotsha, Sobukhazi, Maranatha, Sikhulile, defending champions Magwegwe and Emganwini.

Matabeleland North’s boys’ and girls’ finals will be held at Hwange’s Chilisa in Mpumalanga suburb.

Defending boys’ champions Chinonge has to shrug off the challenges of Binga High, Gloag, Mosi-oa-Tunya, Mthuphane, Nkayi, Tsholotsho High, David Livingstone and Chilisa.

In the girls’ category, titleholders Chilisa will be hoping to make their second trip to the national finals at the expense of Manjolo, Siganda, Matshake, Pupu, Nkayi, Dinyane, Madlelenyoni and Mosi-oa-Tunya.

Meanwhile Paul Mundandi reports from Zvishavane that Mandava High School has promised Zvishavane soccer fans an afternoon to remember in the Copa Coca-Cola provincial finals set for Zvishavane High this morning.

Mandava coach Ashini Sitambuli said they wanted to qualify and represent the province in the national finals in Bulawayo. “If we manage to have all 22 players after vetting then we will go through and the only team that might give us a problem are perennial contenders Gunea Fowl High,” said Sitambuli.

He said attacking midfielder Herbert Chimedza, rightback Morebest Nedi, striker Manford Mudzimu and captain Michael Ndlela were the pillars on which Mandava’s hopes are built. Utongani girls’ soccer team is also likely to get maximum support from the fans as it also hails from Zvishavane district. The tournament has produced a number of players that have gone on to become stars for the 26 years of its existence.

Midlands boys

Chegato High, Mandava High, Parkison Sec, Guinea Fowl High, Mushandirapamwe High, Chikwingizha Secondary, Bengwe Secondary, Manunure High

Girls

Utongani Sec, Mambo Sec, Chizhou Sec, Masase High, Chitora Sec, Amaveni Sec, Rufaro Kasanga Sec, Zumba Sec