FOURTEEEN private boys institutions are taking part in the Conference of Heads of Independent Schools in Zimbabwe Under-20 soccer tournament on Friday and Saturday at Falcon College in Esigodini.

Rodwell Khumalo, the Falcon College coach who is also the tournament director said the event, which has been hosted by 12 School was started in 2000 by his father, retired soccer referee Thomas who a house master at Falcon and Ephraim Muswerakuenda who was a senior master at Lomagundi College. He said the thinking behind the event is to grow football for independent schools to complement what the National Association of Secondary Heads are doing. 

“The idea is and was to develop soccer for the Independent schools, parallel and similar to the NASH structures. Peterhouse College have won the tournament seven times, Falcon College five times and the other independent schools have won it here and there including St John’s College, Christian Brothers College, St Georges College and Watershed College,’’ said Khumalo.

Petra, CBC, Midlands Christian College, Goldridge, South Eastern College, Westridge, Gateway, St John’s College, Watershed College, Lomagundi, Kyle College, Peterhouse, Hillcrest and Falcon College are the schools taking part. They will be divided into three pools, two groups of five and one of four teams. All the group stage fixtures will be played on Friday over 20 minutes a half. On Saturdays, the knockout stage will take place with the final to be played on same day, also made up 20 minutes a half.

Peterhouse are the defending champions after they put home advantage to good use to overpower St George’s College 1-0 in last year’s final in Marondera.

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