The Sunday News
Mehluli Sibanda, Senior Sports Reporter
MPOPOMA High School will look to claim yet another National Association of Secondary Heads title when they participate in the Tanganda-sponsored Stella Tea netball tournament to be held at Thornhill High School in Gweru on Thursday and Friday.
The tournament for the 17-year-olds and under will see the best netball playing schools in the country converge on the Midlands capital for the two-day competition.
Mpopoma were beaten 21-14 by Pamushana in last year’s final in Bikita and will seek to draw inspiration from their 15 years and under football team which did wonders at the recently held Copa Coca-Cola football tournament in Kadoma.
Captained by Nicole Muzanenhamo, the Mpopoma girls were crowned Bulawayo champions when the provincial finals took place at Sobukhazi two weeks ago.
Muzanenhamo walked away with two accolades on that day as she was the best shooter and best player, which saw her take home $500.
Tanganda operations manager Farai Garayi said they were looking forward to an exciting tournament, which comes at a time when the Zimbabwean national team, the Gems are doing the country proud at the Netball World Cup in England.
“We are targeting the girl child who are the future mothers who will buy and prepare tea for the whole family.
The idea is to catch them young, we are proud to be proud to be associated with that.
Seeing that almost 80 percent of the national team players came through this tournament, the competition is tight so it’s promising to be an exciting tournament,’’ Garayi said.
The total sponsorship package stands at $260 000 which covers among other things playing kit for all the teams going to the national finals, transport and accommodation.
In terms of the prize money, Garayi pointed out that with the economic environment not being stable, a decision on what the winners get will only be reached a day before the start of the tournament.
Nash will also use the tournament to select a national team to play in the Cossasa Games to be held in Zambia next month.
Stella Tea netball tournament participating schools: Mpopoma, Mnene, Parirewa, Mvurwi, Mhangura, Mweyamutsvene, Pamushana, Chibi, St Peter’s Kubatana, Mabhikwa, Plumtree, Thornhill.
