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Nkosilathi Sibanda, Sports Correspondent
LOBENGULA High School booked a place in the national finals of the Copa Coca-Cola Under-15 boys’ tournament after beating Mzilikazi High 4-2 in a penalty shootout at Gifford High School yesterday.

The encounter failed to produce goals in regulated time resulting in the dreaded shootout that saw Lobengula emerging victors to represent Bulawayo province at the national finals set for Chipindura High in Bindura from July 21-22.

From the group stages, Lobengula displayed soft touch football, with no individual flashes of brilliance, but gritty teamwork that produced the desired results.

In their opening Group B game, Lobengula beat Nketa High 2-0 and played to a goalless draw in a tough match against Sikhulile High to book a place in the quarter-finals.

They survived another penalty shootout by beating St Bernard’s 3-2 in the quarter-finals.

In the semis, Lobengula met Sobukhazi High and dismissed them 3-0 in another shootout after a 1-1 stalemate in regulation time.

Mzilikazi captain Thomas Mudzengerere was the toast of the tournament. His complete passes and sharp concentration on the field earned him the player of the tournament award.

Sharp shooter Prince Chikova from Mpopoma High won the golden boot and Lobengula’s keeper Vusumuzi Sithole was voted goalkeeper of the tournament.

For Lobengula High’s coach, Joseph Mukanganise, the triumph reads like a classic rise from the ashes.

“This is history in the making. We did not expect that. We have proved that anything is possible in football. No one gave us a chance and we were not expecting to reach this stage. It was a job well done by the boys,” said Mukanganise.

Gifford High will play host to the girl’s provincial finals today.