FAITH NDOU
MASVINGO-The National Association of Secondary Heads (NASH) Under-16 soccer finals at Mucheke Stadium ended with more than medals and trophies, as education leaders challenged young athletes to turn lessons from sport into lifelong success.
Speaking at Mucheke Stadium during the closing ceremony on Friday, Masvingo Provincial Education Director Shylatte Mhike urged learners to use the discipline gained through sport to shape their future and avoid destructive habits.
“I can see you are tired, but you are not tired of taking drugs. You are not tired of fighting. You are tired because you were doing something worthwhile,” said Mhike.
She encouraged learners to stay away from activities that derail progress and instead channel their energy into productive pursuits.
“If you want to be productive in life, stay away from drugs and stay away from activities that will hinder your progress,” she said.
Mhike described youth as a temporary but valuable stage of life and challenged learners to maximise their opportunities.
“Youth is a perishable commodity. Use it with the discipline that is instilled in you through sport to navigate your life. Do what you can to the best of your ability in sport. Let your talents not end here but become your livelihoods.”
NASH president Cephas Mutumhe, who is also head of Mandava High School in Zvishavane, reflected on the organisation of the tournament and called for future hosts to prioritise closer venues to improve coordination.
“For the future, for those who are yet to host, our expectation is that venues should be as close to each other as possible so that coordination of the children becomes easier. Clusterisation should be prioritised,” he said.
Mutumhe praised the standard of competition, saying the tournament continued to demonstrate NASH’s commitment to identifying and nurturing talent.
At the tournament, NASH national head in charge of football Ropafadzo Matemavi revealed that four schools secured qualification for the ZIFA Munhumutapa Challenge Cup junior league competition. Rufaro High School and Rusununguko High School qualified as champions, alongside runners-up Nyamauru High School and Somvubu High School.
Matemavi said the quality of football on display reflected growing investment in coach education.
“We are impressed by the quality of football we witnessed. Some of our teachers are now trained and certified in coaching and that has improved standards,” he said.
He also noted that the use of FIFA Connect registration has reduced challenges linked to player eligibility and unfair practices.
The tournament further selected 28 girls and 13 boys born between 2011 and 2013 who will represent Zimbabwe at the CAF African Schools Championship, highlighting the competition’s role as a pathway for emerging football talent.
