By SANDRA MWILA at OYDC –
Highridge 2 Chongwe 0
CENTRAL Province envoys, Highridge Secondary School were yesterday crowned the 2014 COPA Coca-Cola Schools soccer champions after beating Chongwe in an exciting final at the Olympic Youth Development Centre (OYDC) in Lusaka.
Highridge walked away with K15, 000, a full team set of jersey and medals.
The Central Province representatives sealed their victory through goals from Isidore Kasimba in the 34th minute and a 64th minute strike by Joseph Phiri.
Chongwe, the Lusaka Province envoys, walked away with K10, 000 medals, full set of jerseys and a Trophy.
Meanwhile, Mpika scooped an automatic third place after their opponents Mwata Day were disqualifed for misconducting themselves and beating up a referee at semi-final stage.
Mpika were rewarded K7, 500.
Zambia Secondary Schools Sports Association (ZSSSA) president Chipagano Tembo said Mwata Day had been slapped with a three-year ban for beating up a referee after losing to Chongwe in the semi finals.
“The incidence was unfortunate as ZSSSA we will not condone such indiscpline and we have therefore banned the school and teacher for three years from taking part in sports activities,” he said.
Tembo said it is unfortunate for a teacher to conduct oneslf in such a manner hence the pupils following suit.
“We recommended to the district education office that further disciplinary measures be taken on the teacher,” he said.
Meanwhile Highridge coach Matthews Nkomah said he expected the team to win the tournament.
Nkomah said they stormed the semi-finals in 2013 and it was time for them to emerge victorious.
Chongwe coach Lameck Chikwasha said his side did the best to finish in second place.
Mpika’s Venon Chisulo was named Player-of-the Tournament with Joseph Phiri of Highridge taking the Top Scorer award while Garry Machopa was the final’s man-of-the-match.
All three players walked away with K500 each.