By McGeorge Mbare
THE Ziyah Annual Soccer Tournament 2026 is back, bigger and broader and is scheduled for November 19 to 20 this year.
This year it has spread its wings as far as Plumtree, Mangwe District, Mzingwane, just to name a few, and Beitbridge soccer fans are in for a soccer feast.
The Ziyah Annual Soccer Tournament director Loadwell Ziyaduma has confirmed a new format for this year’s competition.
The fourth edition is expected to be the biggest Ziyah Tournament yet, expanding from a Beitbridge-only competition to a tournament featuring the best teams from seven districts in Matabeleland South, alongside the defending champions from Masvingo Province.
Beitbridge will be represented by 2025 finalists Tongwe High School, Vhembe High School, who were finalists in the 2023/24 edition, Zezani High School and debutants Chabili Secondary School.
The most successful school in the history of the Ziyah Tournament and the only school to have won the championship, Chibi High School from Masvingo Province, will return to defend its title.
The tournament will also welcome teams making their debut from various districts in Matabeleland South.
These include Dombodema High School, representing Bulilima, Gwanda High School, representing Gwanda North,Mawabeni High School from Umzingwane,Bazha Secondary School from Matobo, Bengo Secondary School from Gwanda South,Dekezi High School from Insiza and Bulu High School from Mangwe.
On the girls’ side, all four participating teams will come from the Beitbridge region.
They are Tongwe High School, Malungudzi Secondary School, Kwalu Secondary School and Zezani High School.
The Ziyah Annual Soccer Tournament continues to provide a platform for young boys and girls to showcase their talent across the region, particularly in the border town of Beitbridge.
Several players, including Tembalethu Bajila, Sam Mangavha and Mike Kuza, who now play professional football in the Central Region Soccer League Division One, are products of the tournament.
Other players who have benefited from the tournament include Relicious Moyo, Brian Ndlovu and Selector Mutenda, who are currently playing in the ZIFA Matabeleland South Division Two league.
Many of these players were identified while representing schools such as Zezani High School and Tongwe High School.
They have since progressed to teams including Dulibadzimu United Under-19, Vhembe Stars Under-19, Dulibadzimu’s senior team and Vhembe Stars Academy’s senior side.
With the tournament expanding beyond Beitbridge, the 2026 edition is expected to provide an even bigger stage for young footballers from across the region to showcase their talent and attract opportunities to progress in their careers.
Confirmed Ziyah Media Under-20 Boys’ Soccer Tournament Teams
1.Beitbridge – Tongwe High School
2.Bulilima – Dombodema High School
3.Gwanda North – Gwanda High School
4.Gwanda South – Bengo Secondary School
5.Beitbridge – Zezani High School
6.Mangwe – Bulu High School
7.Matobo – Bazha Secondary School
8.Insiza – Dekezi High School
9.Umzingwane – Mawabeni High School
10.Masvingo – Chibi High School
11.Beitbridge – Chabili Secondary School
12.Beitbridge – Vhembe High School
Confirmed Girls’ Teams
1.Malungudzi Secondary School
2.Tongwe High School
3.Kwalu Secondary School
4.Zezani High School