adminSenior Sports Reporter
THE 27th instalment of the country’s most prestigious schools soccer tournament Copa Coca-Cola will be officially launched at the 2014 girls champions Chidyamakono High School in the Chivi District of Masvingo Province on Friday.
The high profile event, which will attract officials from Coca-Cola, Delta Beverages, the National Association of Secondary Heads, Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education as well as football stakeholders, will set the tone for the tournament proper whose finals are pencilled for Bulawayo on 18 and 19 July.
Although Chemhanza High School of Wedza successfully defended the more prestigious boys’ title, the organisers of the competition have this year to go against tradition and reward Chidyamakono, one of the dominant teams since the girls’ sponsorship was introduced in 2011, with the rights to host the official countdown to the tournament.
National Under-20 and Under-23 women soccer team mentor as well Tsholotsho Football Club assistant coach Sithethelelwe “Kwinji 15” Sibanda is expected to be one of the guest speakers at the launch which should serve as an inspiration to the girl child that SHE can also achieve just like her.
Sibanda made history at the beginning of this year when she became the first female to land a job as an assistant coach of a Premier Soccer League club.
Chidyamakono defeated Saint Francis 1-0 in the girls’ final played at Gwanzura Stadium in Harare last year to retain their crown, a win which saw them take home $3 000. Chemhanza also kept the winners trophy when they beat Oriel Boys 2-0 at the same venue to pocket $6 500. Indications, though, are that the prize money would remain unchanged.
The Copa Coca-Cola which started in 1989 has laid the foundation for most of the country’s footballers who have gone on to excel locally and on the international scene. The long list of players who have played in the competition since its inception, include Peter Ndlovu, the late trio of Adam Ndlovu, Lenny Gwata, Benjamin Nkonjera, Ovidy Karuru, Cephas Chimedza, Vusumuzi Nyoni, Voster Chitema, Johannes Ngodzo, Ndodana Sibanda, Walter Musona, Mkhokheli Dube, Petros Ngodzo, Castro Ndebele, Stanford Ncube, Washington Arubi, Steven Alimenda and Joseph.
Online Reporter