COPA Coca-Cola officially launches today Vee Chibanda
Vee Chibanda

Vee Chibanda

Ricky Zililo, Senior Sports Reporter
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 Mashonaland Central from July 21-22.

Rujeko 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 based in Mashonaland Central Province are set to attend today’s launch. Dynamos’ assistant coach Biggie Zuze, ex-Highlanders and Lancashire Steel midfielder Costa Maradzike, former AmaZulu striker Kingstone Rinemhota and Alisara Kondowe, formerly with Mwana Africa, will be among the guests at the launch.

Objectives of the COPA Coca-Cola 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, FC Platinum’s Walter Musona, Bulawayo City’s Mkhokheli Dube, ex-Warriors’ goalkeeper Washington Arubi, national team goalkeeper Tatenda Mukuruva and Johannes Ngodzo.

Vee Chibanda, activation communications manager at Coca-Cola Zimbabwe, said: “COPA Coca-Cola is the premier grassroots tournament that unlocks the ambitious dreams and possibilities of Zimbabwe and the world’s football stars. There will certainly be big players as you know that COPA Coca-Cola continues to produce stars.”

With effect from this year, COPA Coca Cola has changed its flagship format from boys’ Under-16 to Under-15 in an effort to allow participants to compete in the Five-A-Side World Cup.

Journalists charged with selecting the tournament’s Dream Team will also recommend a player to represent the country at the World Cup.

@ZililoR

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