Rural school soccer team triumph
Victor Sibanda
In a stunning upset, Nejambezi Secondary School from the rural plains of Jambezi emerged victorious in the U17 District National Association of Secondary Heads (NASH) competition, defeating the more fancied Victoria Falls City High School, Grace Mission in the finals at Nejambezi grounds last Friday.
This win secures their place at the Provincial games in Tsholotsho, representing Hwange District in a fortnight. Nejambezi’s road to victory was nothing short of remarkable. They outplayed traditional powerhouses like Hwange High and Matetsi to claim the coveted slot into the provincial competitions.
Last year’s champions, Hwange High, were sent packing by the enterprising Grace Mission, with their captain, the talented Tapiwa Gocha, leading the charge. Gocha’s attacking prowess in midfield was a sight to behold, arguably making him the best player of the tournament despite his team’s narrow defeat the final.
The final match itself was a tense affair. Nejambezi displayed exceptional teamwork, frustrating all of Grace Mission’s attacking attempts. The game remained deadlocked in regulation time, and only penalty kicks could separate the two finalists. Nejambezi held their nerve and emerged victorious from the nerve-wracking shootout that ended 5-4 in their favour.
This victory by a rural school like Nejambezi is a true Cinderella story. They defied the odds, proving that footballing talent isn’t confined to the city limits. The celebrations were undoubtedly loud at Jambezi grounds, a testament to the never-say-die spirit of the team.
While Grace Mission fell short at the final hurdle, their coach, who preferred anonymity, remained gracious in defeat. “The boys played well. We were beaten by a better side on the day, that’s the nature of the beautiful game. We’re proud of our boys’ performance and wish Nejambezi the best of luck in the Provincials,” he acknowledged. Nejambezi’s coach, Dlodlo, remained tight-lipped, preferring to deflect the spotlight to his principal. Efforts to reach the principal proved futile as her phone was unreachable.
The pre-match festivities were marred by controversy, however. Hwange High, knocked out by Grace Mission, protested vehemently to the tournament officials. Their allegation? An over-aged player in the Grace Mission ranks. They claimed the player bypassed proper vetting procedures. This protest resulted in a 20-minute delay to the final kickoff, forcing the match to be played under fading light. The penalty shootout itself took place in near darkness, with a Zimbabwe Republic Police car lending its headlights to illuminate the goal for better visibility.
Head in Charge Football, Memory Mgece Ncube, condemned Hwange High’s protest. “There’s no place for such unwarranted behavior in our sport, especially when we’re supposed to be fostering good sportsmanship in our young players. Inciting a protest against teachers is simply not on,” he remarked.
A parent from Jambezi Centre, Simeleni Moyo said such community development should be applauded.”This is development through sport. For the first time we have broken the jinx that urban schools are always the winners. I want to thank our head and her coaching staff for a job well done. Hats off to them,” said the ecstatic Moyo adding that the team is likely to reach the finals at national level.
The District Schools Inspector, L.H.Matshazi, echoed the HIC sentiments. He emphasized the importance of these games, not just for competition, but for promoting children’s participation in sports activities as part of the Heritage-based curriculum. He highlighted that all school activities should align with Vision 2030, which prioritizes improvements in education and child development.
