Copa Coca Cola 2017 kicks off in Manicaland
THE 2017 edition of the country’s flagship schools junior football tournament - the boys’ Under-15 and girls’ Under-17 soccer Copa Coca Cola competition - kicked off in Manicaland recently with all the seven districts expected to have finished their finals ahead of the provincial finals slated for July 7.
Zonal games were played three weeks ago. More districts games are expected to take place this weekend after Makoni District held its select games a fortnight ago.
District winners will clash in the provincial finals set for July 7 and teams to play in the national competitions will be selected. The national finals will be from July 21-22 in Mashonaland Central.
Makoni District has already selected their representative in the U-15 boys’ category.
A total of nine schools took part in the district games. St Faith’s and Mutungagore are the Makoni District winners after dismissing Nyakuipa and Vengere respectively.
According to Makoni head in charge of soccer, Richard Chiome, seven schools will battle it out this coming weekend in the girls’ U-17 category.
Manicaland boys’ team has been placed in Group B together with Bulawayo and Mashonaland East, while the girls’ team is in Group B with Midlands and the defending champions, Chidyamakono. The draw was conducted recently at Rujeko High School in Glendale.
Mashonaland West, Mashonaland Central and Harare are in Group A. Group C comprises of Matabeleland North, Matabeleland South and Chipindura, while Group D has Midlands, Masvingo and defending champions, Rujeko.
In the girls’ category, Group A has Bulawayo, Masvingo and Harare. Group C is made up of the hosts, Hemen Gmeiner, Mashonaland South and Mashonaland East.
Group D is made up of Mashonaland Central, Matabeleland North and Mashonaland West.
Last year’s edition was won by Rujeko in the boys’ category, while Chidyamakono won in the girls’ category.