The Sunday Mail
Don Makanyanga in Kadoma
PRINCE EDWARD and Mpompoma walked away with $10 800 each after being crowned this year’s 15 and Under Copa-Coca Cola champions in the boys’ and girls’ categories respectively.
Prince Edward edged 2017 champions Rusununguko by 1-0 courtesy of the 2018 tournament best player Alvin Dube’s solitary strike in the 25th minute.
The win saw the Harare province representatives being crowned champions for the first time since the inception of the tournament in 1989. This was despite the fact that they had made it to the finals on five occasions.
Prince Edward coach Pathius Mauto, who wrote his own piece of history by winning the maiden trophy for the Tigers, could not hide his joy.
“I am happy for the boys and it’s good that we have written our own piece of history for the school.
“Now that we have won the trophy, the challenge is on defending it and that is what we will start working on,” said Mauto.
In the girls’ category, Mpopoma were also left celebrating a maiden crown after beating defending champions Nyamauru 5-4 on penalties.
The two sides had played to a goalless stalemate in regulation time.
Mpopoma head coach James Rugwevera said after losing last year’s edition in the finals, they went back to the drawing board with a target of winning the 2019 edition.
“We had our mistakes last year, we learnt from them and worked on them with our sole target of winning this year’s edition.
“I am happy that we have managed to win it for the first time and we will work on defending it,” said Rugwevera.
