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Mehluli Sibanda, Senior Sports Reporter
THREE Mpopoma High School boys are heading off to Thika, Kenya for the COPA Coca-Cola Africa Cup, an Under-16 football tournament taking place from 2 to 5 December.
Bekezela Mpofu, Tendai Muvuti and Shingai Chimoyo were part of the Bulawayo school’s boys’ team which finished third at this year’s COPA Coca-Cola national finals staged in Kadoma in July, having been beaten by eventual winners Prince Edward in the semi-finals.
PE provided seven players in the squad of 16, beaten finalists Rusununguko have five of their youngsters in the Zimbabwean team going to Kenya while Pamushana have one. Pathias Mauto, the PE coach who led the Harare school to victory will take charge of the Zimbabwean youngsters in Kenya.
The Zimbabwean team heads off to Kenya on 1 December. At the tournament, Zimbabwe have been drawn to play against Kenya and Mozambique. Other countries taking part in the Africa Cup are Uganda, Tanzania, South Africa, Zambia, Botswana, Angola, Ethiopia, Burkina Faso and Namibia
Milidzani Ncube, the Zimbabwe Coca-Cola franchise manager said COPA Coca-Cola provides youngsters with an opportunity to sharpen their skills to become future soccer stars.
“The COPA Africa Cup is a platform that will go a long way in ensuring that students are the next generation of soccer stars. The array of stars the tournament has provided to the national football teams of the participating teams is a testament of the crucial nature of the games. Our partner, the National Association of Secondary School Heads has immensely supported and managed the tourney ensuring success of the games,” said Ncube.
In the past, Coca-Cola have sent youngsters from the African continent to training camps run by international coaches and former footballers.
Phillipine Mtikitiki, the general manager, Coca-Cola East and Central Africa franchise said they are now giving the up and coming footballers an opportunity to take part in competitions in friendly settings.
“Previously, the company invested in taking outstanding players in specialised training in the COPA Coca-Cola global camps where they visited most of the football iconic cities.
“Now, we are exposing the students to friendly professional competitions, a wide range coaches and scouts from the best football clubs all over Africa in a bid to ensure they are scouted to continue their footballing journey. We urge all football stakeholders; parents, teachers and scouts to walk with us in this journey of unearthing African football talents and skills,” said Mtikitiki.
In 2018, five Mpopoma High School girls were part of the Zimbabwean team which went to the COPA Coca-Cola Africa Cup in Nakuru, Kenya.
Thando Sibanda, Priscillah Marikosi, Nosipho Dube, Nomqhele Thwala and Rufaro Maphosa were the Mpopoma girls who represented the country in Kenya together with their coach Sisasenkosi Mapungwana.
Zimbabwe squad
Alvin Dube, Ronald Uraya, Tadiwanashe Masukuta, Stephen Chatikobo, Prosperity Gwaze, Claivert Tshuma, Luke Musikiri (all Prince Edward), Dylan Gumbe, Keith Wema, Thomas Gutsa, Alfa Chiwashira, Nigel Marufu (all Rusununguko), Enasio Perezo (Pamushana), Bekezela Mpofu, Tendai Muvuti, Shingai Chimoyo(all Mpopoma).
Coach: Pathias Mauto (Prince Edward)
Head of Delegation: Tranos Mbwirire (Nash Head in Charge of Soccer)
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