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FLASHBACK . . . Chemhanza Under-16 boys’ team join officials and the Copa Coca-Cola mascot during the launch of the tournament last year

Ellina Mhlanga in Chivi, Masvingo
THE Copa Coca-Cola Under-16 boys and Under-17girls football tournament was officially launched yesterday at Chidyamakono Secondary School.

National Association of Secondary Schools Heads president, Johnson Madhuku, revealed they have come with stringent measures to prevent age cheating.

This year’s finals will be held in Bulawayo from July 17 to 20 and this will be the 27th edition for the boys while the girls’ competition is running for the fifth year.

Madhuku said they appreciate the support they have been getting from the sponsors and as Nash they need to play their part to ensure the tournament continues to grow.

“We have as Nash tightened our competition participation requirements for player documentation so that we have a robust vetting process,” said Madhuku.

“This is with addition of the requirement of the grade seven certificate on Zimsec result.

“This has been done for the purpose of bringing sanity and credibility to the tournament and I, therefore, urge everyone involved in this great game of football to take this positively.

“From now, as Nash, we are also saying we need every school participating in Nash, especially in Copa Coca-Cola tournament, to sign a contract and acknowledge the rules and regulations they are given so that they become binding and legal documents.

“There also has to be registration of players we also want to have team photos which are taken. The heads of schools and the coaches have to be part of those team photos and they have to be taken and used from the zonal level.

“To those teams that will make it to the district they have to take the photos and registration forms to province and to national level. So I urge my colleagues to ensure that we effect these requirements.

“Coca-Cola have played their part as they always do and Nash has to reciprocate in a bigger way since we benefit from this sponsorship more than the sponsors.”

Previously, the players had to produce their birth certificates and school IDs especially the boys section, who are Under-16s and are yet to get their national identification cards.

The priviledge to host the launch of the tournament is given to the winners in the previous year and Chidyamakono are the defending champions in the girls section.

This is the first time for the launch to be held at the girls defending champions’ school since the inception of the girls competition in 2011. Chemhanza are the defending champions in the boys category.

The two schools qualify for the tournament by the virtue of being the defending champions.

They will be joined by the hosting schools Gifford and Montrose and the provincial representatives from the 10 provinces for the finals.

Coca-Cola senior franchise brand manager, Takunda Jinda, said they were happy with the progress they have made in advancing gender equality through the annual event.

“Clearly we can say with pride that we have already made a lot of progress in Zimbabwe in advancing equality between women and men in society and soccer over the last decades,” Jinda said.

“As for the world of sport, it is positive that many sports, including for instance football, have now become increasingly popular with young girls and women.

“However, the idea that ‘certain sports are not for girls’ was a stereotype heard in clubs, organisations and the media for many years.

“We have had to devote a lot of energy here in Zimbabwe to proving that there was no objective reason for this kind of stereotyping. And it has not been easy.

“Luckily our fight against such stereotypes has shown positive results, even if it is clear that more still needs to be done.

“This launch, therefore, at the defending girls school comes at the right time, calling for a renewed focus on gender equality in sport.”

Provincial education director Masvingo, Zedius Chitiga, who was the guest of honour, saluted the sponsors for their support over the years.

The zonal competition also kicked-off yesterday at various venues in the 10 provinces.

The winners will progress to the district event before going to the provincial finals which will culminate into the national finals in July.

In a draw conducted yesterday, Mash Central winners will take on winners from Bulawayo and Manicaland in the boys section Group A while Harare, Chemhanza and Mashonaland West are in Group B.

Group C consists of Masvingo, Midlands and Gifford.

Matabeleland North, Matabeleland South and Mashonaland East are in Group D.

In the girls draw, Mashonaland East, Matabeleland South and

Chidyamakono are in Group A while group be is made up of Mashonaland West, Masvingo and Harare.

Midlands, Montrose and Matabeleland North will battle it out in Group C.

Mashonaland Central, Bulawayo and Manicaland are in group.

Some of the football personalities that graced the launch include Mighty Warriors coach, Rosemary Mugadza and captain Felistas Muzongondi, Tsholotsho FC assistant coach Sithethelelwe “Kwinji 15” Sibanda, former Dynamos striker Lloyd Hlahla, Norman Mapeza and Harlington Shereni.

Youth Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment, Deputy Minister, Mathias Tongofa, who is also the Member of Parliament for Chivi North constituency, graced the occasion.