Salima Secondary School has qualified for the Africa Schools Championship by virtue of being runners-up to South Africa’s Clapham High School during the Cosafa  Zone qualifying tournament held in the country last year.

The tournament, which is sponsored by Confederation of African Football  (CAF) president Patrice Motsepe, will be held in Durban, South Africa from April 5 to 8.

Initially, only the winners were supposed to qualify, but according to a letter from CAF to Football Association of Malawi (FAM), Salima have qualified by virtue of being runners-up since winners South Africa will host the tournament.

Sponsors the tournament: Motsepe

The letter reads in part: “In line with the guidelines of the African Schools Football Championship, Cosafa region as the host of the continental phase of the competition, has been allocated four spots for participating teams.

“Consequently, we are pleased to inform you that as runners-up in the boys category of the Cosafa Zonal Phase, Salima Secondary School has been selected to take part in the final of the African Schools Football Championship.”

Salima Secondary School coach Foster Chipeta and FAM president Walter Nyamilandu said they were delighted with the qualification.

‘Said Chipeta: “We are proud to be given a chance to compete in the inaugural African schools competition as runners-up.

“The boys will be excited with the news and wde will now be planning to assemble for preparations. Of course, it has come as a surprise, but we will make do with the time we have to prepare well.”

On his part, Nyamilandu said: “We are delighted with Salima Secondary School’s qualification to the finals of this inaugural competition.

“Should they excel, they stand a good chance of winning lucrative prize moneys in excess of  $100 000 [about K103 million].”

During the Cosafa zonal final, Salima lost to Clapham High School 1-0.

In the girls’category, Malawi were represented by Malindi Secondary School, who won all their games , but the Zomba-based school finished third after being  dockedsix points for featuring an ineligible player.

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