Copa Coca-Cola tourney to be launched on Friday

The 22-year-old event will this year see the introduction of girls’ soccer teams in a tournament that has seen over 200 schools taking part annually.
The launch will be held at the defending champions’ home under the theme “Journey to Stardom”.

Dewure beat Dangamvura of Mutare 2-1 during last year’s finals at Mucheke.
The draw for this year’s tournament will take place at the launch with the finals set for Marondera High on June 30-31.

The preliminary games will start soon after the launch next week and only one team will qualify from each of the country’s 10 provinces.
The provincial winners will then join defending champions Dewure and hosts Marondera at the finals.

The tournament was sponsored to the tune of US$100 000 last year and the organisers have indicated that the amount could be more for this year’s tournament.
Defending champions Dewure will play Copa Coca Cola’s “Dream Team” at the launch.

At the end of the tournament, a new “Dream Team” of 20 players will be selected to represent the country at the COPA Coca-Cola training camp in South Africa where 17 other participating countries will take part.
Other African countries that take part in the event include South Africa, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Angola, Mozambique, Zambia, Malawi, Botswana, Namibia, Rwanda, Congo, Swaziland, Nigeria,

Lesotho, Madagascar, Mauritius and Burundi.
The Zimbabwe “Dream Team” finished fifth out of the 14 at the regional tournament in South Africa last year.

Meanwhile, Dombwe High will host the second edition of the Under-16 Mukarakate Sports Tournament on June 24 in Murehwa.
The tournament will see 13 primary and six secondary schools taking part in soccer and netball.

National Trust for Schools Excellence, which has two tournaments, are the organisers of the tournament.
The trust’s chairperson Juliana Sabarauta believes the participation by schools and well-wishers will go a long way in helping developing sport at grassroots level.

“Our aim is to nurture talent both in soccer and netball in the rural areas.
“We also look forward to fund-raise for school maintenance and bring the community together.

“Schools from Murewa district will take part in the tournament and this year we expect a big turnout.
“We urge people from the areas and former students to plough back into the community,” he said.

Jekwa Secondary won last year’s tournament.