The Sunday News
MZILIKAZI High School recently lost out on an opportunity to have their soccer fields developed to world class standards as part of the Copa Coca-Cola Legacy Pitch initiative, with the winning presentation going to Egypt.
According to sources, the youngsters who attended the Copa Coca-Cola training camp in Lindow, Germany last month were given the opportunity to vote, and a pitch from Egypt got the nod. The football skills enhancing gathering brought together aspiring soccer players from all countries engaged in Copa Coca-Cola, a youth tournament played annually.
As part of their commitment to create inclusive physical activity among the youth, Coca-Cola identifies a football pitch in one of the countries attending the camp and renovates it for future generations. Teenagers attending the camp were asked to submit pictures and videos of a local pitch they would like to see given a facelift with the winning entry announced at a special Legacy Pitch ceremony that was held at the Berlin Olympics Stadium a day before the end of the gathering.
The voting took place on day three of the camp, during the visit to the Olympic Stadium and results were announced at the camp, on the very last day of the camp. The voting process was on a point system, each of the teens had to allocate points in order of their preference. Egypt won the pitch.’’
Zimbabwe were represented at the training camp by Devine Khumalo of Mzilikazi and Leeroy Willie from Oriel Boys High School in Harare. They were accompanied by Coca-Cola Zimbabwe senior brand manager Takunda Jinda. Mzilikazi had their name submitted because of their rich history in the Copa Coca-Cola. Not only has the school won it a record four times but it was the inaugural winners of the competition held at the school in 1989. The school has produced a number of footballers who have gone on to excel locally and internationally.
