It’s official: Coca-Cola has partnered with top South African house music label Soul Candi to bring, DJ Terence Parkah, Giggs Superstar, Shimza, Dr Duda, to the national finals of Copa Coca-Cola.
Copa Coca-Cola national finals, the soccer tournament aimed at finding SA’s strongest Under 18 team, take place this weekend in Kimberley. Galeshewe Stadium will be a hive of activity from 31 March to 2 April when the nine Provincial winners clash for the title of the country’s top high school soccer team.
As if the action on the pitch is not enough, top DJs from Soul Candi will be entertaining the crowds after the matches on certain days, bringing the two South African passions of the beautiful game and music together at one event.
The soccer starts on 31 March at 8.30am and fans can expect non-stop action on the field through to 6.30pm.
Then on Friday, 1 April, DJ Shimza will play between 4.30pm and 5.30pm, and immediately after the final on Saturday, 2 April, Terence Parkah, Giggs Superstar and Dr Duda will give a full on 3-hour concert from 2 – 5pm.
“I am really looking forward to rocking Galeshewe stadium with some Soul Candi magic and seeing SA’s future football stars in action,” said Dr Duda. “Come join us as we bring football and entertainment to life!”
But the entertainment does not stop there! Throughout each day there will be 200 Soul Candi CD’s to be won and the first 500 people into the stadium on 31 March and 1 April will get to have their picture taken with Lucas Radebe and the DJ of the day.
On the field of play it is a question of who will be the 2011 Copa Coca-Cola Champions. Gauteng’s Johannesburg High School, the current trophy holders, are not in the running after being knocked out at the Provincial Finals. This leaves the title wide open and the soccer action promises to be electrifying as the top nine teams battle it out for the prize money of R150 000 for first place, R100 000 for second place and the R60 000-worth third place. These lump sums are to be spent on a school legacy project of the school’s choice. The schools represented at the nationals have also already each received a R40 000 cash prize for simply making it this far in the tournament.
“The national final will be an event not to be missed,” says Themba Nobanda, brand manager of Coca-Cola South Africa. “We have pulled out all the stops to make sure that this year’s event is a memorable one. Coca-Cola is a sponsor of sport to the highest international level and, as such, we know the business of entertaining crowds at such events. This year will be no different.”
While spectators wait in anticipation for the finals to start, the teams have been focusing on preparing for the tough competition ahead. Underdogs Mohloli High School from Sharpeville are the favourites for this year’s title in light of their surprise-victory over the Esselenpark School of Excellence.
“This is the first time we have played in the Copa Coca-Cola and getting through to the finals was a huge achievement - something we did not expect,” says Mohloli Coach, Tebello Kheswa. “Facing one of the top football youth academies in the country, the School of Excellence, in the Gauteng Provincial finals was a daunting task. But the guys have proven themselves and are now focused on the final.”
The team’s manager, Sello Tshabalala, explains the strategy that got Mohloli to the nationals. “Although our school is relatively unknown, we have been playing friendlies against any team that would face us - even some Under 23 teams,” says Tshabalala. “Our squad has been practising since schools closed last year, and when we go into a competition, we don’t go nervous - we go prepared.”
Mohloli High School team captain, Themba Mokoena said, “We are looking forward to the finals, I am not sure of what to expect as it is our first time there, however I believe that we are fully prepared. I know we have been classified as underdogs and newcomers but I believe many will know us by the end of the tournament.
“We have worked really hard to be where we are now and our goal now is to reach the finals and go back home with the silverware, explained the 17 year old goalkeeper.”
Besides the generous cash prizes that are up for grabs, Coca-Cola has joined forces with SASFA to use the tournament as a platform to find South Africa’s next big soccer stars. Former Leeds and Bafana player, and ambassador of the Copa Coca-Cola, Lucas Radebe, along with a host of other big names have had their eyes open for any promising new talent for the professional leagues. And between Isaac Shai, Seputla Nhlapho, Yster Ndlovu and Robinson Seakamelala as well as referee analyst, Sylvester Ndaba, no talented player will be denied the opportunity to prove himself as worthy of playing in South Africa’s big leagues.
So get to Galeshewe Stadium from 31 March to see your music and soccer heroes live, and to be part of the crowd that will bring the house down at the biggest event of the Copa Coca-Cola so far.
“Football development is key to the future success of our National Team,” said Lucas Radebe. “Copa Coca-Cola is aimed at bringing top players in the country together to play in a competitive environment and to look for talented youngsters who could be developed into future stars. I am looking forward to Kimberley to see what is on offer at this age.”
PARTICIPATING TEAMS:
Gauteng: Mohloli High,
Mpumalanga: Freddy Sithole High,
Northern Cape: Kakamas High,
Eastern Cape: Ndamase secondary,
KwaZulu-Nata: Groudville High,
North West: Sol Plaatjie High,
Free State: HTS Louis Botha,
Limpopo: Benny’s care academy and Western Cape Sports School from the Western Cape clash for the title of the country’s top high school soccer team.
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