BY SPORTS REPORTER
Matabeleland North province is gearing up for the National Association of Primary Heads (NAPH) ball games national finals in Bulawayo on Wednesday and Thursday with a strong contingent ready to take on the competition.
According to NAPH Matabeleland North Sports chairperson Wilson Ndlovu, the province is proud to be participating in all ball games disciplines for the first time.
“We are more than ready; our preparations have gone well, and our coaches have done a fantastic job in preparing our children for the national event,” Ndlovu said in an interview with VicFallsLive.
“For the first time, we are fielding teams in all disciplines on competition – soccer, rugby, tennis, basketball , netball, handball and volleyball – unlike in the past when we only participated in a few. We saw a lot of skill exhibited by our students during provincial competitions, and we’re confident they’ll do well.”
Ndkovu added that they have qualified coaches who have taken the children through rigorous preparations.
The teams are currently camped at David Livingstone Primary school in Umguza district.
The United College of Education, Northlea Hugh School and Heartsfields Rugby Ground will host the events.
While the meet is a contest for bragging rights, NAPH is using it as a platform to select the best team to represent the country in the upcoming COSSASA games in Bulawayo in August.
Here are the results of the Matabeleland North provincial ball games played last week ahead of the nationals:
_Handball Girls:_
1. Binga
2. Hwange
3. Umguza A
4. Tsholotsho
5. Lupane
6. Bubi
7. Nkayi
8. Umguza B
_Handball Boys:_
1. Bubi
2. Umguza A
3. Lupane
4. Hwange
5. Umguza B
6. Tsholotsho
7. Nkayi
(NB: Binga did not bring a boys team)
_Volley Girls:_
1. Tsholotsho
2. Nkayi
3. Hwange
4. Bubi
5. Binga
6. Lupane
7. Umguza A
8. Umguza B
_Volley Boys:_
1. Hwange
2. Binga
3. Nkayi
4. Lupane
5. Tsholotsho
6. Umguza A
7. Bubi
8. Umguza B
_Basketball Girls:_
1. Hwange
2. Bubi
3. Nkayi
4. Umguza A
5. Umguza B
_Basketball Boys:_
1. Bubi
2. Hwange
3. Umguza B
4. Nkayi
5. Umguza A
_Netball:_
1. Tsholotsho
2. Lupane
3. Hwange
4. Binga
5. Bubi
6. Nkayi
7. Umguza A
8. Umguza B
_Soccer Girls:_
1. Nkayi
2. Tsholotsho
3. Hwange
4. Bubi
5. Umguza A
6. Umguza
_Soccer Boys:_
1. Hwange
2. Nkayi
3. Tsholotsho
4. Bubi
5. Lupane
6. Umguza A
7. Binga
8. Umguza B
Note that this is the first time Matabeleland North is participating in all disciplines, including tennis and rugby, which was previously not included.