The ManicaPost
Ray Bande Senior Sports Reporter
NYAMAURU High School from the sprawling high density suburb of Dangamvura in Mutare defied the odds to land the big prize in the 2018 edition of the premier schools football tournament – the Copa Coca-Cola national finals – played at Mandava Stadium in Zvishavane on Saturday.
With a formidable outfit that had the likes of Charmaine Magoronga, Bethel Kondo, Tafadzwa Chapeyama and Gracious Chaleka, who all registered their names on the score sheet, the Nyamauru High girls Class of 2018 was just insuperable.
NASH Head in Charge Manicaland John Muyocha praised Nyamauru for a sterling display that earned the admiration of neutrals in Zvishavane.
“It is my sincere belief that Manicaland was represented by the best teams in Mutare Boys High and Nyamauru High at the Copa Coca Cola under 15 boys at girls at national level in Zvishavane 12 to 14 July 2018. The two teams did us proud.
“Nyamauru High girls were the shining stars for the province taking position one though some of them were also vetted out.
“Well done Nyamauru for a job wonderfully done.
Nyamauru High School snatched a ticket to play at the national finals after dismissing the provincial champions Mamunyadza 1-0 in their opening game during the provincial finals played in Buhera recently.
They went on to beat Bonda 4-0.
Nyamauru the thrashed Nyakuipa 2-0 in the quarter finals and in the semis, they beat Rukweza 5-1 before a 2-0 win in the final against Muzokomba.
A total of 24 schools from the country’s 10 provinces met in the mining town of Zvishavane for the prestigious inter schools competition – COPA Coca Cola national finals – which turned 30 this year.
The Albert Mutasa coached team, Nyamauru, made their maiden appearance at the national finals in 2014 though they made an early exit in the group stages and in 2016 they were shown the exit door in the quarter final stage after being edged 0-1 by the then defending champions Chidyamakono after the dreaded penalty lottery.
On their road to the final in this year’s edition of the national finals the Dangamvura based team knocked out Thekwane 3-0 before dismissing Zvishavane 6-0.
In the quarter finals Nyamauru got the better of Mwami 2-0, securing a ticket to the semis where they dismissed Gweshe 2-1.
The other representative for Manicaland at this year’s national finals Mutare Boys High bowed in the quarter finals after they were made to compete with only eight players due to a diabolical physical age vetting process.
