|
The Malawi national schools soccer team on Sunday grabbed the Coca-Cola International Schools’ Soccer Challenge Trophy after outplaying Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Malawi, who were the tournaments’s champions in 2001 and 2002, registered a clean record when they won three of their four games and drew one against Zimbabwe on Saturday morning.
On Sunday the hosts proved their superiority in the regional soccer showcase when they beat Zambia 1-0 during a formality match as they had already collected maximum number of seven points.
Malawi could have netted more goals especially in Sunday’s games if it were not for the poor marksmanship of the strikers.
Budding soccer star Peter Wadabwa earned the distinction of being the top goal scorer after scoring three goals.
He then left the scoring honour to his fellow striking marksman Mphatso Henry Magetsi who in the ninth minute scored the fourth goal during the tournament’s concluding match in Sunday between Malawi and Zambia.
It was an afternoon of appreciation, inspiration and motivation when the boys proudly snatched the trophy from holders Zambians who won it last year when the tournament was hosted by Zimbabwe in Harare.
The Zambians were also struck a heavy blow when their striker Jackson Mwansa was red-carded for ignoring the referee’s decision. The team’s captain John Musukwa was also shown the yellow card for rudely protesting Mwansa’s red card.
Coach John Kaputa was all smiles when his overjoyed boys run all over the giant Chichiri Stadium where all the action took place.
“We are really celebrating the victory. The boys played very well and they proved that there is good and talented soccer in Malawi,” he said.
Kaputa went on: “I am extremely happy because the team has come out of the tournament without registering any loss which is very encouraging.”
Kaputa said the action was very tough and unpredictable on who was going to get the trophy until Sunday morning when Malawi beat Zimbabwe 1-0 to get a total of seven points before narrowly victimising Zambia with a 1-0 defeat in the afternoon to make it 10 points.
But Zambia coach Kantu Chibwe, whose team came last, refused to accept the loss blaming it all on officiation and players’ age.
“We were playing against elderly people and did not have any chance to win,” said Chibwe, failing to prove his sentiment.
Justin Saidi, secretary general for the Malawi Schools Sports Association (Massa), who was one of the organisers, said Malawi has benefited a lot from the tournament in terms of players’ exposure and getting the title.
“But I ask the Super League teams, who may want to take these players to emphasize on discipline because at Massa camp, we were in school although out of school,” he said.
The tournament’s prize presentation ceremony took place on Sunday at the Le Meridien Mount Soche Hotel where, as champions, Malawi received a whopping US $3,000 (MK324,000) while Zimbabwe, on position two got US $2,500 (K270,000). Zambia received US $2,000 (MK216,000).
As we went to press, the player of the tournament had not yet been selected.
Next year’s tournament is most likely to take place in Zambia who also hosted it in 2002.
|
