Coca-Cola Tanzania Brand Manager Maurice Njowoka addresses the media at a ceremony where Coca-Cola Tanzania handed over balls and bibs for the U-15 Copa Coca-Cola tournament at district level. The presentation ceremony was held in Dar es Salaam over the weekend.
TFF football development officer Salum Madadi speaks to the media at a ceremony where Coca-Cola Tanzania handed over balls and bibs for the U-15 Copa Coca-Cola tournament at district level. The presentation ceremony was held in Dar es Salaam over the weekend.
Coca-Cola Tanzania Brand Manager Maurice Njowoka (R) hands over sports kits to TFF football development officer Salum Madadi for the U-15 Copa Coca-Cola tournament at district level. The presentation ceremony was held in Dar es Salaam over the weekend.
Coca-Cola has handed over balls and bibs to the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) for youth teams taking part in this year’s Copa Coca-Cola football tournament which has now moved from U-17 to U-15 in order harness and expose talent from a younger age giving players a better chance of being picked up by local football academies and clubs.
The first batch of the sports kits which caters for the district level phase of the tournament was received on behalf of TFF by football development officer Mr. Salum Madadi who called on all regional football association to observe rules and regulations governing the tournament. The presentation ceremony was held at Coca-Cola Tanzania offices over the weekend.
He said that some of the districts had already started matches and urged the rest to begin the tournament as soon as possible now that the balls and bibs are available.
Earlier in his remarks, Coca-Cola Tanzania Brand Manager Tanzania Maurice Njowoka underscored Coca-Cola’s commitment and obligation to continue supporting the championships which has played a significant role in identification of football talents in the country.
“Our move from U-17 to U-15 gives COPA players the opportunity to develop their football skills and gain experience early, thus putting them at an advantage over their peers,” said Njowoka.
In Africa, the Coca-Cola COPA tournament is run in over 20 countries giving more than 50,000 young players the opportunity to display their talent. Over the years, bona fide professional stars have emerged from the tournament including Zambian national team goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene and his teammates Nathan Sinkala and Stophila Sunzu; Ugandan international defender Timothy Batabaire; Nigeria FC Porto midfielder Mikel Agu; Kenyan midfielder McDonald Mariga; Tanzanian striker Thomas Ulimwengu; and South African duo Mandla Masango and Happy Jele among others.
“We have many heroes born from the COPA Coca-Cola tournament each year,” said Njowoka. “The professional players who have made it big and inspire us all are heroes. Our players who work hard and support one another are heroes. The parents who offer support and guidance to our players are heroes.
The coaches who pour their hearts and souls into their teams are heroes. Even the fans who come out to cheer their teams are heroes and every day, we see new heroes emerge. This formed the thinking behind our new slogan ‘Where Heroes Are Born’ which you will see on all marketing materials going forward,” he added.
This year’s tournament follows a successful campaign last season where the tournament was activated in over 20 markets across Africa with 134 players from Sub-Sahara Africa selected for a two-week international boot camp in Pretoria, South Africa.