adminThe three-day sporting extravaganza promises to unearth a new breed of footballers expected to carry the mantle to the next generation of Warriors.
It is the Copa Coca-Cola finals involving all provinces in the boys’ Under-16 category while girls will fight it out in the Under-17s.
With over 2 235 teams having taken part from the preliminaries, the elimination process has left the organisers to watch the best there is in the country.
Victoria Falls, famed for its tourism, will be the place to be up to Sunday as teams battle it out for the 2012 Copa Coca-Cola awards.
It is the same tournament at which yesteryear greats Harrington Shereni, Peter Ndlovu, the late
Benjamin Moyo, Simba Rusike, Benjani Mwaruwari, Alois Bunjira, Stewart Murisa, to mention a few, established themselves in inter-schools tournaments.
Coca-Cola have been associated with junior football talent development since the early 1980s when it was played as an Under-18 inter-provincial tournament.
Up to 1988, it was the prime junior soccer tournament attracting such quality as Willard Khumalo, Labani Ngoma, Agent Sawu, Mpumelelo Dzowa, Summer Ncube, Saul Chaminuka, Godfrey Paradza, Dumaza Dube, the late Mercedes Sibanda, John Sibanda and Ronnie Jowa.
However, the introduction of the schools version in 1989 won by a Peter Ndlovu-inspired Mzilikazi High School ensured more schoolboys and youths took part.
Year in year out since then, good quality players have emerged to dominate the local football scene.
Winners in the boys’ category are assured of $6 500 and runners-up $5 500.
The champions among the participating girls’ teams will take home $3 000 and runners-up $2 500.
It is going to be prizes galore as individual players will also be honoured as will the most disciplined team in either category.
According to Coca-Cola’s Mona Karingi, 16 boys will be identified for a training stint to last a fortnight in South Africa.
Last year the most outstanding boys went to Chelsea FC in London in the United Kingdom.
Moses Chunga, Mkhuphali Masuku and Peter Ndlovu are expected to be part of a panel to identify the most outstanding players at the tournament.
Defending champions Manunure will be the boys to beat, with Mzingwane, who are making a second consecutive appearance at the finals, among the favourites.
Former champions Pamushana cannot be written off.
Hwange High school and Mosi-Oa-Tunya will carry the host province’s hopes of gold.
Selonga of Matabeleland South are tipped to do well in the girls’ competition.
Expectations are that a new Peter Ndlovu will be born after 23 years of failure to unearth a gem of his stature.
Online Reporter