The table-topping exploits of Mabelreign Girls High in the Jan Robertson Hockey league have not gone unnoticed with four of their players selected to form the core of the Mashonaland Schools women select this year.

The quartet of left wing Natasha Muwani, left inner Diolyn Phiri, right-half Rufaro Nyaoda and right-back Athina Mujibha became the pick of the crop for provincial hockey selectors after an amazing run by the school, attributed to team work, that saw them emerge winners of the best female school hockey league in the country.

Teacher in charge of the sport at the school, Hilton Fiyanda, acknowledged that it was the first time any of their players had attracted the attention of either scouts or selectors.

"They are not only members of the team but are some of the best players in there as well. All the four will still be with us next season so we expect them to keep on improving as they are still far from reaching their zenith,'' Fiyanda told the Suburban.

MGHS sprung the biggest surprise in the entire arena of schools sport when they upset the established order of junior hockey in Zimbabwe and upstaged top ranked outfits like Arundel, Dominican Convent and Chisipite to lay their hands on the Jan Robertson Trophy for the first time ever.

This was after a fruitful tour of South Africa that sharpened their skills and deepened their resolve, ultimately leading to an unbeaten season that has been rewarded by selection of their girls into all-star ensembles.

Among the quartet, Phiri embellished her name in record books after scoring for Mashonaland in their 2-0 win over Manicaland at the Inter-Provincial Tournament that was staged in Bulawayo earlier this month.

Phiri got the second goal in the match which proved to be the last piece of action for the team as they crashed out in the next round at the hands of Matabeleland Schools but still returned to the capital with their heads high.

Mujibha, with her close ball control and air-tight defensive play, was voted woman of the match in that same tie. Fiyanda said the girls remained on the Mashonaland team list.

What beckons now for the girls, especially for Phiri and Mujibha, whose statistics have earned registration in the hockey annals, is gradualion into the Zimbabwe Schools girls team which is just a rung below the Zimbabwe Under-21 squad who are finalists in the Junior World Cup set for Chile in November.