The ManicaPost
Fungayi Munyoro Sports Correspondent
MUTARE’S Nyamauru High School, which is looking beyond the current Covid-19 crisis, has vowed to fight tooth and nail in the quest to reclaim their dominance in the prestigious Copa Coca-Cola girls Under-15 soccer tournament.
As a result, they have already started building a team for the next Copa Coca-Cola edition.
Nyamauru won the trophy in 2018 when they beat Mpopoma High School 2-1 in the final encounter.
They made history by becoming the first girls team from Manicaland to lift the Copa Coca-Cola Under-15 cup.
Last year, the Dangamvura-based side lost 5-4 in penalty shootout to Mpopoma High School after the two sides had played to a goalless stalemate in regulation time.
In an interview with Post Sports, school head Vitalis Chirenje said they are keen to assemble a strong side and they are looking at nothing short of retaining the prestigious gong.
“I believe we have one of the best teams in Zimbabwe. We are backing our coach Admire Mahachi in every manner possible. This year we want Nyamauru to come back with the trophy.
“After last year’s games, we continued scouting for players from other schools. I believe we now have a team of good players. Our target this year is to win, nothing else. I know we can achieve that since we are working very hard,” he said.
Nyamauru has four new players to add to their 2020 Copa Coca- Cola squad.
The new recruits include Melinda Mapasure, Crestabel Zulu (Macheke), Polite Dzuremba (Nyanga)and Melinda Makusha.
For the past few years, Nyamauru have become a force to reckon with in girls’ football.
They are a feeder to Faith Drive FC, which is the only Manicaland team that is part of the Zimbabwe Women’s Soccer League. Faith Drive have produced several players for the national team.
Even though they did not manage to snatch the coveted girls’ junior football accolade last year, Nyamauru High provided the bulk of the players that made it into the national Copa Coca-Cola dream team.
The players include Bethel Kondo, Mazvita Dimingu, Sikhetiwe Sibanda, Lucia Chisvo and Tino Taurai.
The school has also produced eight players for the Zimbabwe Under-17 national team that took part in the World Cup qualifiers last year and these include Lucia Chisvo, Tariro Chirume, Melody Chikore, Margaret Kanjekete, Tino Taurai, Morelife Nyagumbo, Plaxedis Matanda and Catherine Gwangwara.
Nyamauru has also dominated in the Zimbabwe Under-20 women’s soccer team.
Coach Mahachi said he is happy with the players at his disposal.
“I am happy with the players that I have so far. Although we have been affected by Covid-19, we have already assembled a strong side. We did not fold hands after last year’s event, we scouted for other players to beef up our squad. We want to reclaim our position.
“Losing to Mpopoma last year was heartbreaking, so we went back to the drawing board. We are ready for the games as soon as the situation permits,” he said.
