adminThe team that was selected last month at the national Copa Coca-Cola finals that were held in Victoria Falls will be joining more than 160 other players from 15 countries.
“The 2012 International Coca-Cola Football Camp is part of Coca-Cola’s global sponsorship and is another way that Coca-Cola is creating moments of African inspired celebration as one of the billion reasons to believe in Africa.
“The programme features specialised football training, multicultural friendship opportunities and the promotion of active and healthy lifestyles. The youngsters will have an exciting experience that includes football clinics, a unique African safari, a football tournament, a visit by a famous football celebrity and the opportunity to participate in the Copa tournament,” senior franchise brand manager for the Coca-Cola Company Mona Karingi said.
The team’s coach Bekezela Mavundla said they were going to give a good account of themselves.
“The boys are raring to go and we will give a very good account of ourselves in South Africa. We just had our final training session at Cresta Gardens in Harare and the team is looking good,” Mavundla said.
The team is made up of 14 players and they will be accompanied by the technical team, Nash representative and Coca-Cola chaperons.
Paul Makotore, Taboka Ncube, Innocent Chifamba, Nqobile Moyo, Mkhokheli Nhliziyo and Glynn Tandi, all from this year’s champions Mzingwane High School; Bukhosi Ncube, Munashe Ndlovu and Ishmael Munsaka from Mosi-oa-Tunya who were the hosts, Tapiwa Tshuma and Sean Pumulo from Hwange Government School who were knocked out in the semi-finals by eventual champions Mzingwane, Brian Chimuru from Rimuka 2 Secondary, Erick Mapfumo from Centenary High School and Nyasha Chikazinga from runners up Pamushana High make up the team.
Chelsea FC Foundation coaches from England will form part of a special coaching team that will oversee the training of the players.
The training to be conducted by five Chelsea coaches will end on 8 September.
“When you think Chelsea, you think of great African football stars such as John Obi Mikel from Nigeria and Michael Essien from Ghana and add these to the club’s international team and there’s very little doubt that Chelsea’s strength lies in its diversity, a value that Coca-Cola ascribes to given our global footprint,” said Karingi.
Countries taking part in this year’s international camp include Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Swaziland, Lesotho, Rwanda, Burundi, Congo, DRC, Mauritius and Nigeria.
Meanwhile, the Under-17 Nash squad, made up of girls’ and boys’ volleyball teams, basketball, soccer teams and a netball team yesterday left for Windhoek, Namibia, where they will be taking part in the regional Confederation of Schools Sports Association of Southern Africa (Cossasa) games that are starting on Friday and ending on Monday.
Nash national vice president Arthur Maphosa who is the head of delegation said they were hoping for a great run in the games.
“We are hoping to make a great run in the ball games just like we did in athletics although we do not have the Under-13 age group and some Under-17 disciplines,” Maphosa said.
Online Reporter