Nagoli remembers Coca-Cola adventure
KENNEDY NAGOLI was already a fully-fledged player in the country’s topflight, the old Super League, when he took part in the inaugural Copa Coca-Cola tournament in Bulawayo in 1989.
But he remembers that adventure as one of the defining periods of his rise into one of the best players to come out of this country.
Nagoli, described by South African legend Jomo Sono, went on to make a name for himself by playing for iconic Brazilian team Santos, which was the home of the Pele. He is one of the few African players to ever play for the former world club champions. Together with former Warriors captain, Peter Ndlovu, they were the first group of players to compete in the tournament in 1989 at Gifford High School where the finals were held.
Nagoli and Ndlovu were playing for Manunure and Mzilikazi.
The two schools met in the final where Mzilikazi emerged winners.
Another renowned player that came through this tournament, in particular from that group of players in 1989, is the late Benjamin Nkonjera, who was playing alongside Ndlovu at Mzilikazi.
This inaugural edition marked the beginning of a journey that would see some of the players going places.
As the Copa Coca-Cola tournament marks its 30th anniversary this year, with the launch coming in a week’s time, these are some of the celebrated players that would always be part of its history.
While some could argue he was already in the limelight when he took part in the Copa Coca-Cola tournament, Nagoli says the tournament provided him the breakthrough he needed to further his career.
“It’s something which comes into my mind, even today, because of the level of football now. It demanded a lot of which it was a great honour for me to participate in that tournament because that’s where you got marketed,’’ said Nagoli.
“There will be lot of scouts and there will be a lot of managers, a lot is happening at that event.
“So, for me, it was an honour even though I was already playing at Super League level because that’s where I managed to advance my career to play in Europe for 12 years.’’
Nagoli believes the tournament is a challenge for the young players to rise to the occasion and take advantage of the platform to prove what they have.
“What Coca Cola are doing, to give these guys an opportunity to showcase their talent, to invest into that talent, I think it’s a great job,” said Nagoli.
The 44-year-old is now the team manager of Premiership club ZPC Kariba who brewed up a shocker at the weekend by beating Highlanders 2-1 in a league match at Barbourfields.