FORMER Zimbabwe national team coach Norman Mapeza and former Warriors defender John Phiri have urged schools to ensure that teachers who coach their teams for the Copa Coca-Cola tournament attend coaching clinics.sukoluhle mthethwa Sports Reporter
Mapeza and Phiri spoke to Southern Eye Sport at the end of the boys’ Under-16 and girls’ Under-17 Copa Coca-Cola 2013 edition which was won by Chidyamakono from Masvingo in the girls’ section while Chemhanza won the boys’ section in final matches played at Sakubva Stadium in Mutare on Sunday. Chidyamakono beat Vainona 2-0 while Chemhanza (Mashonaland East) edged Howard (Mashonaland Central) 3-1 to win their first-ever Copa Coca-Cola titles.
“The schools should get coaches who have gone for football courses. This will equip them more with the laws of the game as they need that to improve the level of football in the country.
The level of competition was fine, but I think it is necessary to do things more professionally. “I felt that it is strenuous for children to play three or four times a year.
The teachers should sit down and maybe increase one more day in the competition,” Phiri said. Phiri commended Coca-Cola for sponsoring the competition. “I would like to commend Coca-Cola because this is a good tournament and it is a place to scout for future players. However, I would like to urge Coca-Cola to sponsor schools football throughout the year because they have the resources to do so,” he said. Mapeza also thanked Coca-Cola for the initiative of sponsoring schools football.
“Firstly I would like to thank Coca-Cola for organising such a tournament for children to showcase their talent. From what I saw we still have the talent, but it needs to be nurtured. However, the coaches/teachers who are helping these children need to attend coaching courses. It is important because they need to impart their knowledge to the players so that they learn the basics while still at school.
“The tournament was very competitive. Our football is developing because there is no small or big team anymore,” he said. Pamushana, the 2007 champions, were the biggest casualties in this year’s competition as they were booted out 7-6 on penalties by Mwenezi in the provincials.
Last year, Pamushana reached the final, but lost 1-0 to Mzingwane in the final played in Victoria Falls. Going into this year’s competition Mzingwane were still favourites to retain the title, but the Matabeleland South School lost 3-1 on penalties to Sakubva in the quarter-finals while Vainona were also stunned by Chidyamakono in the final.
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Players who excelled in the boys’ section were drafted into the Copa Coca-Cola Dream Team to tour South Africa while the girls have been drafted into the Confederation of Schools Sports Association of Southern Africa Athletics championships team to represent Zimbabwe in Lesotho in September .
Boys’ list Tawanda Munditi (Chemhanza), Noah Banda (Howard), Edwin Chiyangwa (Churchill), Raimos Dzapasi (Churchill), Mathias Chodewa (Churchill), Takudzwa Chipembere (Chemhanza), Learnmore Muyambo (Chemhanza), Innocent Chifamba (Mzingwane), Taruvinga Mhikuro (Ngezi), Bukhosi Sibanda (Gifford), Saidi Ebadi (Zvishavane), Benjamin Murehwa (Gaza), Elvis Tumba (Chemhanza), Daniel Chibisa (Churchill), Washington Parira (Chemhanza), Simbarashe Tandi (Mzingwane), Andile Tshuma (Gifford), Tafadzwa Nhundu (Howard), Takudzwa Kambwembwe (Sakubva), Learnon Bvochera (Chemhanza) Copa Coca-Cola girls’ team Tendai Sasha Chirimuta (Sodbury), Mitchel Mutasa (St Francis), Amhelang Ndlovu (Selonga), Chipo Marondera (Mbare), Siboniso Chifoshoro (St Francis), Gracious Mageza (Vainona), Hilda Kabaya (Vainona), Primrose Mavhezha (Vainona), Siphosenkosi Gumede (Masotsha), Sharleen Mavhuta (Chidyamakono), Barbara Manyanga (Matinunura), Ngengeterai Taruvona (Chidyamakono), Fungai Bvekwa (Vainona), Chipo Chikonora (Matinunura), Prudence Zirumba (Chidyamakono), Belinda Mushanuki (Mbare), Priviledge Jeke (Chidyamakono), Vimbai Gwatiringa (Chidyamakono), Greater Bande (Vainona), Grace Kazambe (Sodbury)
