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Sikhumbuzo Moyo, Senior Sports Reporter
THE Bulawayo Under-23 girls’ side stormed into the final of the Zimbabwe National Youth Games football following a hard fought 1-0 victory over a stubborn Matabeleland South at Fatima High School yesterday.

The Bulawayo girls scored their solitary goal through Nothabo Nkabinde. It was the only goal conceded by Matabeleland South in the tournament and they will now meet Masvingo in a third place play-off today.

Masvingo fell 1-3 to Manicaland in the other semi-final. Bulawayo coach Boka Ndebele said their motto was to play, enjoy, improve and succeed.

“Its game on; we will deal with our opponents tomorrow,” said Ndebele, who is being assisted by Mighty Warriors’ legend Nomusa “Boyz” Moyo.

The Bulawayo girls were polled in Group One alongside Manicaland, Midlands and Mashonaland Central and emerged second behind Manicaland.

They opened their campaign with a convincing 3-0 thumping of Midlands on the first day of the competition, but could not find the target against Manicaland, while a lapse in concentration in their last group game against Mashonaland Central allowed the opponents to scramble an equaliser and force the match into a 1-1 stalemate.

Matabeleland South were the most lethal side on day one, hammering Mashonaland East 5-0 in Group Two and handing Matabeleland North a 2-0 defeat to qualify for the semi-finals without conceding.

Meanwhile, Masvingo scooped gold in the Under-18 category after winning all their matches at the same venue, while Manicaland settled for silver, with bronze going to Mashonaland West.

Host province Matabeleland North came last, although they were tied on three points with Mashonaland East.

“We had to use the head to head rule to decide the positions and that meant Matabeleland North settled for last because they lost 1-2 to Mashonaland East,” said the tournament’s girls’ soccer competitions director Moses Matsaure.

Results

Under-23: Manicaland 3-1 Mashonaland Central, ZTISU 1-2 Masvingo, Mashonaland East 0-5 Matabeleland South, Bulawayo 3-0 Midlands, Mashonaland East 0-0 Matabeleland North, Manicaland 0-0 Bulawayo, Vocational 1-6 Masvingo, Matabeleland North 0-2 Matabeleland South, Mashonaland Central 1-1 Bulawayo, Manicaland 5-0 Midlands, Midlands 0-3 Mashonaland Central

Semi-finals: Bulawayo 1, 0 Matabeleland South, Manicaland 3,1 Masvingo

Final: Bulawayo v Manicaland

Third place play-off: Matabeleland South v Masvingo

Under-18: Manicaland 3-1 Matabeleland North, Mashonaland East 1-3 Masvingo, Mashonaland West 0-1 Matabeleland North, Manicaland 2-0

Mashonaland East, Masvingo 2-0 Matabeleland North, Mashonaland 1-0 Manicaland, Matabeleland North 1-2 Mashonaland East, Mashonaland East 0-1

Mashonaland West, Mashonaland West 0-2 Masvingo, Manicaland 1-2 Masvingo

Final log Table
P    W    D    L    F    A    GD    Pts
Masvingo    4    4    0    0    9    2    7    12
Manicaland    4    2    0    2    6    4    2    6
Mash West    4    2    0    2    2    3    -1    6
Mash East    4    1    0    3    3    7    -4    3
Mat North    4    1    0    3    3    7    -4    3