Mbachi Mutukula-Maregere
25 June 2011
Moshi — ZIMBABWE’S representatives at the East Africa Cup, Bindura United, crashed out of the Under-13 boys’ football tournament yesterday when they slumped to a 1-7 defeat by Kenya.
The Zimbabweans, who had done well to reach this stage considering the chaos related to their trip, came to an end yesterday.
Team manager Israel Nhawu said despite the defeat, the boys – who were smaller in stature compared to their opponents – acquitted themselves well.
The girls’ volleyball team also crashed out at the quarter-final stage after a defeat at the hands of Uganda. Zimbabwe lost 0-2.
One of Zimbabwe’s players Michell Vambe said they played their best game but came short.
“We are still happy although we lost 2-0 in the quarter final against Uganda and I am confident that the next year will win.
“We have benefited a lot from just being part of the East Africa Cup as it was not just about winning but also networking and knowing other cultures. Working together as a team helped us to reach quarter-finals,” Vambe said.
Meanwhile, Zambia’s Under-16 boys’ football team have pulled out of the East Africa Cup quarter-finals after being questioned by the organisers over the ages of their players.
Speculation has been rife that the Zambians were fielding over-aged players. But Zambia’s Under-16 coach, Gregory Shikombelo, said his players were not over-aged but were merely big in size.
“We have decided to withdraw because the organisers were saying that some of our players are over age.
“They said that the game must be based on Fair Play, so we felt it is better for us to pull off from the tournament,” Shikombelo said.
The Zambia Under-13 girls’ team also pulled out in the middle of a match against Kenya. The Zambians, who were trailing 0-1, walked away from the field in the second half claiming poor officiating. However, one of the executive organisers for the East Africa Cup, Henry Majale, said cheating should not be tolerated.
“We had a meeting with all team managers and coaches and talked about Fair Play and making sure that they bring the right age groups required for the EAC.
“Age-cheating has been one of the challenges that we have being facing for several years and we have expelled some of the teams from different countries. In 2008 we expelled teams from Uganda, Zambia, Kenya and Tanzania, ” said Majale.
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Teams Crash Out