The Sunday News
Mehluli Sibanda, Senior Sports Reporter
MPOPOMA High School displayed their intention to defend their Copa Coca-Cola Bulawayo titles when their boys as well as girls finished as the top teams in Mzilikazi District.
Even though they were guaranteed a spot at the provincial finals to be held at the end of this month, Mpopoma showed that they were serious about this year’s tournament with their boys and girls’ teams coming out tops in the district.
Mpopoma boys finished ahead of Msiteli and Sikhulile with the three schools now heading for the provincial competition. Mpopoma boys won 4-2 on penalties over Ihlathi then defeated Msiteli 2-0 in the final.
In the girls, Mpopoma had Magwegwe and Nkulumane finishing behind with the three teams also heading to the provincial finals. The Mpopoma girls thrashed Sikhulile 3-0 in the semi-finals and then saw off Magwegwe 1-0 in the final. In the group stages, Mpopoma were in rampant form as they scored an astonishing 26 goals in four matches. Mpopoma they clobbered Lobengula 10-0, hammered Mandwandwe 7-0, battered Njube 6-0 and hit three without reply against Msiteli.
Babson Ngwenya is Mpopoma boys’ coach while James Rugwevera is the girls’ mentor.
Last year, Mpopoma had their boys and girls’ teams representing Bulawayo at the Copa Coca-Cola national finals played in Zvishavane. The Mpopoma girls impressed at the national event where they were beaten 2-1 in the final by Nyamauru. Just to show how well they did in Zvishavane, Mpopoma had five of their girls being part of the Copa Coca-Cola Africa Cup, an Under-15 football tournament held from 10 to 15 December last year in Kenya.
Mpopoma girls coach, Sisasenkosi Mapungwana took charge of the 16-member Zimbabwean lasses team in the East African nation.
From Bulawayo Central, Gifford and Milton are the boys’ teams that are heading to the provincial finals while Townsend as well as Founders are the girls sides that made it. Reigate district will be represented by Luveve and Mzilikazi for the boys while the girls’ teams are Sobukhazi, Luveve together with Mzilikazi.
From Imbizo, Mncumbatha and Maranatha are the girls’ representatives while Tennyson Hlabangana, Eastview and Maranatha are the boys’ teams that are taking part in the provincial finals.
St Bernard’s and Pumula will carry the hopes for Khami District in the boys competition.
The Bulawayo finals for the boys are taking place on 28 June with the girls the following day, all at Gifford High School.
