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Innocent Kurira, Sports Reporter 

THE Proton Bakeries and Surrey Group-sponsored national Under-20 boys’ football tournament will get underway in Kwekwe today.

The tournament gives hope that secondary school sports can return next year. 

Ministry of Health and Child Care

Sporting activities in secondary schools resumed in mid-June after a two-year break but were suspended in July after it emerged that not a single province had managed to vaccinate 70 percent of the learners against Covid-19 as required by the Ministry of Health and Child Care.

However, the National Association of Secondary School Heads (Nash) will go ahead with the Proton Bakeries and Surrey Group competition as they want to maintain relations with the two Marondera-headquartered companies who are pouring a US$20 000 package for this year’s event.

Twelve teams, the defending champions Rusununguko High and the hosts Kwekwe High as well as the winners of 10 provincial finals, will battle it out for the ultimate prize.

They will battle it out against some of the best in the land with Allan Wilson (Harare), Mzilikazi (Bulawayo), Mutero (Masvingo), Rio Tinto (Midlands) and Rugeko (Mashonaland West), among others, for the crown.

The tournament was launched six years ago and beginning next year, it will incorporate girls’ football while plans are underway to also include other sporting codes.

Rusununguko beat Mt Pleasant High to win the national finals at Marondera High in the last edition held in 2019. – Follow on Twitter @innocentskizoe