The ManicaPost
Weekender Reporter
PAFIWA High turned on the magic to clinch the Sakupwanya tournament soccer title on Saturday at St Matthias Tsonzo High in Mutasa District.
It was sweet revenge for Pafiwa High after the host, St Matthias Tsonzo, outplayed their rivals in a tightly contested semi-final last year.
The tournament, which is a preserve of schools in Mutasa District, is sponsored by Mozambican-based water-resources strategist Jefter Sakupwanya.
Sakupwanya, who did his primary education at St Matthias Tsonzo before enrolling with St Augustine’s High for his secondary education, sponsors the tournament as a means of ploughing back into the community that nurtured him.
Last Saturday, Pafiwa booked a place in the final after beating St James Zongoro in the semi-finals while St Matthias got the better of Sherukuru in the other semi.
Tournament co-ordinator Cosmas Sakupwanya commended the participating schools for their dedication and discipline.
“The tournament went on well and we really want to applaud the participating schools for their dedication and discipline. We are looking forward to yet another exciting 18th edition of the tournament,” he said.
Hosts St Mathias atoned for their failure in soccer when they snatched the netball and volleyball titles while St David’s Girls’ High won the girls volleyball competition.
A total of 10 schools that included soccer winners Pafiwa, hosts St Matthias, Sherukuru, Mbaza, St David’s Bonda High, Nyakatsapa, Vumbunu, St James Zongoro and Mapara took part in this year’s edition of the soccer, netball and volleyball competitions.
Last year’s 16th edition of the Sakupwanya tournament lived up to its billing as villagers created a carnival atmosphere when they thronged the St Matthias Tsonzo sports grounds in their numbers.
Several senior Government officials in the province, including deputy provincial education director (secondary non-formal education) Oswell Marange graced the annual sporting gala.
Almost all secondary schools in Mutasa District were represented by their soccer, volleyball and netball teams in the 2013 edition of the event.
