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Ricky Zililo in Bindura
THE 29th edition of the country’s premier schools’ soccer competition, Copa Coca-Cola, kicks off today with 24 teams competing in the epic junior football extravaganza.

The teams include the 10 provincial girls’ and boys’ champions as well as the defending champions and host schools.

Coca-Cola activation manager Vee Chibanda said her organisation is geared to contribute to the country’s grassroots development schools’ festival and hopes major teams will send their scouts to the festival.

“We are ready for the competition and everyone is ready for the games. It is exciting that the integration of primary education and secondary schools’ athletics programme is yielding good development programmes for the country. Hopefully we will be able to have athletes that will fly the country’s flag high in future,” said Chibanda.

Over the years that the premier schools’ competition has been staged in the country, legends such as Peter Ndlovu, Harlington Shereni, Vusa Nyoni, Knowledge Musona, Khama Billiat and Noel Kaseke all played in the prestigious competition.

The participants will all get an opportunity to be selected to represent the country in the Under-15 Dream Team in South Africa.

Tournament organisers have reviewed this year’s edition from the boys’ Under-16s to the Under-15s, with the girls’ Under-17s going down to Under-15s.
Rujeko High of Mashonaland Central are the boys’ defending champions, while Chidyamakono High of Masvingo are the girls’ champions.

Meanwhile, Sabiwa High of Matabeleland South were disqualified from the national finals and replaced by 2012 boys’ champions Mzingwane High after being found guilty of age cheating. Mzingwane now have a chance of reclaiming the title they last won four years ago in Victoria Falls.

Teams

Boys: Oriel Boys (Harare), Takawira (Manicaland), Kundayi (Mashonaland Central), Mzingwane (Matabeleland South), Gutu High (Masvingo), Lobengula (Bulawayo), Rusununguko (Mashonaland East), Tohwe (Matabeleland North), Pfupajena (Mashonaland West), Guinea Fowl (Midlands), Chipindura (hosts), Rujeko (defending champions)

Girls: Vainona (Harare), Mamunyadza (Manicaland), Rushinga (Mashonaland Central), Tongwe (Matabeleland South), Mwenezi (Masvingo), Mpopoma (Bulawayo), Parirewa (Mashonaland East), Somvubu (Matabeleland North), Sodbury (Mashonaland West), GUinea Fowl (Midlands), Hermann Gmeiner (hosts) Chidyamakono (Masvingo)