The organisers of the Copa Coca-Cola Under-16 football tournament, Delta Beverages under their Coca-Cola brand, have upped the prize money for the annual competition in an apparent sign of the company’s continued dedication in developing grassroots football.
This year’s winners will walk away $6 000 richer while the runners-up will go home with $5 000.
Third and fourth place finalists will get $3 000 and $2 000 respectively while all the eight teams that will make it to the national finals to be held at Marondera High School on July 29-31 are assured of $1 000.
Last year’s winners Dewure High School went away with $4 000.
There will be also some individual prizes for the players and teams who will take part in the competition.
Fair play team will get $1 100 and the best coach will win himself $200.
The best midfielder, defender, top goal scorer, goalkeeper and player of the tournament will get $100 each.
This improved sponsorship package was revealed at a glittering launch that was held at Dewure High School on Friday and attracted Warriors’ man of the moment Ovidy Karuru and counterpart Quincy Antipas.
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The charismatic Masvingo United coach Luke Masomere and Zimbabwe Junior Football League chairman Zivanai Chiyangwa also graced the occasion.
“The Copa Coca-Cola tournament has made a mark on the lives of thousands of secondary school pupils, their parents, families and societies throughout the country,“ said Mona Karingi, the senior franchise brand manager Coca-Cola Zimbabwe.
“We are proud to be associated with this event that is an important investment in our youth. We will continue to sponsor the tournament and provide a route to stardom to all those that have the talent,” assured Karingi.
The draw for this year’s tournament was also held at launch. Each winner from the country’s 10 provinces will be grouped into four groups comprising three teams each.
The games will start at the zonal level and then go to the district before the provincial finals which then culminates into the national finals.
Group A has the defending champions Dewure who will meet winners from Harare and Matabeleland province while the hosts Marondera High School will fight it out with a winner from Matabeleland South and Midlands in Group B.
Group C has Masvingo, Mashonaland West and Mashonaland West while Group D has Mashonaland East, Bulawayo and Manicaland.
Group A winners will meet Group C in the semi-finals while Group B winners will meet Group D winners.
