THE country’s biggest schools tournament, Copa Coca-Cola, will be launched at Chemhanza High School in Mashonaland East Province this morning with a number of football personalities expected to grace the occasion. HENRY MHARA SPORTS REPORTER
Headlining the list is national women’s football team coach Rosemary Mugadza who will be guest of honour at the event.
Other luminaries expected to attend are former Warriors players Alois Bunjira and Norman Maroto, Dynamos’ Artwell Mukandi and Caps United striker Leonard Fiyado.
The organisers said they had also wanted Warriors head coach Ian Gorowa to attend, but he excused himself because of national team commitments. Gorowa is in camp with the team ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Tanzania on Sunday.
Last year’s launch at Umzingwane was graced by Warriors assistant coach Mkhuphali Masuku, midfielder Kudakwashe Mahachi and former midfield magician Johannes Ngodzo.
The tournament’s national finals which were played in Mutare were attended by former Warriors greats Norman Mapeza, John Phiri and Desmond Maringwa, among others.
As per tournament’s tradition, Chemhanza will host the launch by virtue of being last year’s winners of the boys’ Under-16 title.
The girls’ edition was won by Chidyamakono High School of Masvingo Province, who defeated two-time champions Vainona High School of Harare.
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The tournament will be entering its 26th edition this year and is part of the 2014 Brazil World Cup celebration.
And as the World Cup fever grips soccer fans across the globe with just 13 days to go before the start of the planet’s biggest sporting event, Coca-Cola Zimbabwe — sponsors of Copa Coca-Cola — has given two teenage footballers Tatenda Tumba and Tatenda Munditi a lifetime opportunity to witness the global showpiece firsthand.
The Chemhanza High School pair who guided their school to the title last year, won tickets to Brazil after impressing at last year’s Copa Coca-Cola camp in South Africa where they were part of the victorious Zimbabwe select side.
Tumba was voted the most valuable player and top goalscorer of the tournament while Munditi was voted the finest goalkeeper of the tournament, having guided Zimbabwe to winning the tournament.
The two were outstanding for Chemhanza High School in winning the Copa Coca-Cola Under-17 national Schools tournament last year.
Organisers of the trip yesterday said Tumba and Munditi will leave for Brasilia on Sunday next week where they will attend a Copa Coca-Cola camp to be held in Sao Paulo from June 10-15.
They will join other Copa Coca-Cola players from across the world to participate in the six-day camp and have a once in a life time opportunity to attend the 2014 Fifa World Cup opening ceremony which will be followed by the opening match between the hosts and Croatia on June 12.
According to the programme, the camp will feature a well-balanced mixture of football activities and entertaining diversions aimed at enhancing the youngsters’ football skills and experience.
