BULAWAYO City will be painted red this weekend as the COPA Coca-Cola soccer tournament descends on the City of Kings and Queens.
The National Association of Secondary Heads (NASH) and COPA Coca-Cola schools soccer tournament roars into life tomorrow as schools are expected to arrive in the country’s second largest City with games starting tomorrow.
The country’s oldest and most prestigious secondary schools’ soccer tournament was last year hosted by Harare.
Various venues will host the provincial champions in the Under-16 boys and Under-17 girls categories.
Defending champions of each category, host schools and provincial champions clash for the coveted trophy and prize money while there is an assortment of individual prizes for players.
Chidyamakono High School from Chivi are the girls U-17 defending champions while Chemhanza High School are the boys U-16 title holders.
Competition is expected to be high this year as the standard of play has greatly improved.
It will not be an easy walk in the park for the defending champions in both categories.
Chidyamakono have to brace for challenge from St Francis and St Clare from Guruve.
The two met in the final and it was Chidyamakono who won and successfully defend the title.
St Francis and St Clare coach, Moses Munyoro believes in continuity and exposure they got at last year’s tournament in Harare.
With about four players who were part of last year’s team, Munyoro vowed his side will be crowned champions.
“We started preparing for the finals early this year and we have worked on our defence and strike force,” he said.
“Our defence was back-peddling each time our opponent attacked rather than attacking the ball while our strikers were not aggressive enough.”
Seke 1 High School from the high density suburb of Unit D in Chitungwiza are Group B favourites too who have the potential to turn the tables against all highly-rated opponents.
They will meet Sodbury and Mwenezi in Group B.
In the boys category, Rujeko High School from Glendale in Mashonaland Central province are a force to reckon with.
The side are a well-knit team that has potential to outclass other teams.
They are in Group A with Manicaland and Bulawayo champions Mutare Boys High and Mpopoma respectively.
Dewure from Masvingo province are other favourites together with Prince Edward.
A surprise package might be Tsholotsho High School who come from the same neighbourhood with Tsholotsho Pirates – a premiership side.
Girls Under-17
Group A
Chidyamakono, Furamera, Selonga
Group B
Sodbury, Mwenezi, Seke 1
Group C
Zumba, Montrose, Dinyane
Group D
St Francis, Magwegwe, Nyamauru

Boys Under-16
Rujeko, Mpopoma, Mutare Boys
Group B
Prince Edward, Chemhanza, Nemakonde
Group C
Dewure, Guinea Fowl, Gifford
Group D
Tsholotsho, How Mine, Bernard Muzeki