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Vee Chibanda

Ricky Zililo in Harare
THE annual premier schools’ soccer tournament COPA Coca-Cola will be launched at Rujeko High School in Glendale this morning.

Today’s official launch will pave way for zonal competitions that kick-off on Friday. Winners of the zonal games will clash in district tournaments set for June 9. District winners will meet in provincial finals on July 7, with provincial top sides meeting in national finals that will be held in Zvishavane from July 12-14.

Rusununguko High are last year’s national champions in the boys’ category.

Coca-Cola officials, their bottling partners from Delta Beverages and Mutare Bottling Company, the Nash leadership and representatives from the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education are set to attend today’s launch.

Sponsors Coca-Cola have promised to stage an impressive 30th edition.

Vee Chibanda, Coca-Cola senior brand manager, said: “It has been a fruitful 30-year journey and we are happy that we have so many players that we can refer to that have benefited from Copa Coca-Cola. As the Coca-Cola Company, we say we will continue supporting talent development. Our existence is because of people who support us and what better way to support talent from grassroots level other than such initiatives.

“This year’s edition should be bigger and better. We hope all schools will participate with the zeal to be part of the celebrations of this milestone. We want talent to be identified and players discovered to go on and realise their full potential.”

Objectives of the COPA Coca-Cola tournament include inspiring young footballers to achieve their dreams through the competition by providing a global platform, camaraderie and opportunity for talented individuals to showcase their talent.

Some players that were unearthed at previous COPA Coca-Cola finals are legendary striker Peter Ndlovu, former national team defender Harlington Shereni, Belgium-based Vusa Nyoni, Walter Musona, Mkhokheli Dube, ex-Warriors’ goalkeeper Washington Arubi, national team goalkeeper Tatenda Mukuruva and Johannes Ngodzo.

Winners (Boys)
1989 – Mzilikazi High School
1990 – Hippo Valley High School
1991 – Hippo Valley High School
1992 – Churchill Boys High School
1993 – Mzilikazi High School
1994 – Churchill Boys High School
1995 – Mashoko High School
1996 – Hippo Valley High School
1997 – Hippo Valley High School
1998 – Mutare Boys High School
1999 – Mzilikazi High School
2000 – Churchill High School
2001 –  Mzilikazi High School
2002 – Lord Malvern High School
2003 – Lord Malvern High School
2004 – Cranborne High School
2005 – Mt Pleasant High School
2006 – Chipadze High School
2007 – Pamushana High School
2008 – Churchill Boys high School
2009 – Dzivarasekwa High 2 School
2010 – Dewure High School
2011 –  Manunure High School
2012 – Mzingwane High School
2013 – Chemhanza High School
2014 – Chemhanza High School
2015 – Dewure High School
2016 – Rujeko High School
2017 – Rusununguko High School