adminWebster Dzvova Sports Reporter
TWO teenage footballers, Tafadza Dhliwayo and Joe Moyo, have been given a once-in-a-lifetime chance to attend a Copa Coca-Cola international football camp in France, where they will also get an opportunity to watch some of the matches at the Euro 2016 Championships. Coca-Cola are also sponsors of Euro 2016. The Copa Coca-Cola International Football Camp starts on June 29 and ends on July 4 in Paris.
Organisers yesterday confirmed in a statement that the teenagers will represent Zimbabwe in France.
“Tafadzwa Dhliwayo, an attacking midfielder from Gifford High School in Bulawayo and striker Joe Moyo of Gweru’s Guinea Fowl are the two youngsters who will be heading to the European country. The Coca-Cola Company will be responsible for all guests including but not limited to, financial responsibilities, insurance, and airfare from their home country to France and back, all travel expenses whilst in France, accommodation and food”, the statement said.
Dhliwayo and Moyo were part of the Zimbabwean team at the Copa Coca-Cola regional training camp in Pretoria, South Africa, in September last year.
Tafadzwa won the Team Player of the Tournament Award. Other countries from the southern region sending two youngsters each are Malawi, Zambia and Botswana. In order to qualify for the camp, the boys have to be aged between 13 to 15.
Last year, Zimbabwe sent two aspiring footballers, Devine Khumalo of Mzilikazi High School and Willie of Oriel Boys High School to a Copa Coca-Cola International Camp in Lindow, Germany, where they got expert training from international coaches as well as meeting some members of the Germany team which won the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.
“Scouts from around the world will be attending and the footballers will be motivated to perform their best.
“Coaches from Paris Saint-Germany Academy will be taking the players through their paces. Players will be sharing their experiences, learning new cultures and meeting world class football legends, who will perfect and hone their football skills,” said the organisers.
Zimbabwe has benefited immensely from the Copa Coca-Cola tournaments.
The current success of the senior national soccer team can be accredited to the Copa Coca-Cola tournaments as players such as Knowledge Musona and Khama Billiat came through the tournament. Peter Ndlovu had earlier on burst onto the scene through the Coca-Cola tournament as a teenager and became the first captain to lead the Warriors to the AFCON finals.
Online Reporter