Tsholotsho, Mzimuni triumph in Orap Zenzele Chevrolet Cup
TSHOLOTSHO High School are the winners of this year’s Orap Zenzele Chevrolet Champions Cup Under-20 boys section after they overpowered Mosi-oa-tunya High 4-2 on penalties in the final of the football tournament at Gifford yesterday.
Mosi-oa-tunya scored first but the Biggie Faya coached Tsholotsho fought back to equalise and force the match into penalties. Tsholotsho and Mosi-oa-tunya shared the individual accolades equally. Left wing, Xetsha Ndlovu of Tsholotsho walked away with the most outstanding player award while Brilliant Sibanda from the same school took the best goalkeeper’s prize. Anelka Mafayita of Mosi-oatunya was the top goal scorer with three goals while his teammate Newman Shoko was named the best defender of the tournament.
Mzimuni of Matabeleland South were the girls champions with a 3-1 triumph over Bulu from the same province in a fixture which had ended 0-0 in normal time. Nokukhanya Sibanda of Mzimuni took two awards, the Most Outstanding Player as well as the Top Goal Scorer.
Former Zimbabwe International Trade Fair board chairman Bekithemba Nkomo was the guest of honour and presented the teams as well as players with their prizes. Nkomo said it was encouraging that the corporate world had come together to support the tournament, which is in its fourth year.
Orap chief executive officer Mvuselelo Huni highlighted that 25 sponsors were funding the tournament, an indication that great things can be achieved if the Government, private sector and Non-Governmental Organisations came together.
Yesterday’s final day of matches as well as prize presentation was attended by the Minister of Small to Medium Enterprises who is also the founder of Orap, former Highlanders chief executive officer Ndumiso Gumede, Bosso coach Erol Akbay, his assistant Cosmas Zulu, team manager Vezigama Dlodlo, Autoworld Bulawayo dealer principal Mike Blatch, Matabeleland South provincial education director Tumisang Thabela and Sports and Recreation Commission officials from Matabeleland South, Bulawayo and Matabeleland North.
Fourteen schools, eight boys and six girls took part in the tournament which started on Friday. They were drawn from Bulawayo, Matabeleland South, Midlands and Matabeleland North.
Players such as the Highlanders duo of Denzel Khumalo, Nkosana Ndlovu and Bantu Rovers skipper Bukhosi Sibanda played in the tournament which started in 2014 during their school days.