NORTH WEST HOST COPA COCA-COLA PROVINCIAL FINAL

North West will host the next Under 15 Copa Coca-Cola Provincial Final taking place on 19^th May at the Motlosana Stadium in Klerksdorp.  Four Regional winners will compete for the chance to represent the Province in the National Finals. Games kick-off at 8.00am and entrance is free. 

First time contender, Maatla Secondary school from Dr Ruth Mompati Region, are hoping to make an impression.  ”We have seen how tournaments such as Copa Coca-Cola have changed people’s lives for the better,” said coach, Edward Moepeng who believes that his players will gain confidence by playing in a tournament of this calibre.

The players walk up to 10 km to get to training but this doesn’t hold them back from pursuing their dreams.  “My dream is to become a professional sportsman,” said grade 10 striker, Tsepo Khudugaone who plays football and is an accomplished athlete.  “I won a silver medal in the 100m sprint recently when I represented Dr Ruth Mompati in a regional athletics event.”

Another player that should do well for the school is grade 8 midfielder, Bafana Chabe and striker, Okane Mokae.  “These two players have good ball control and an eye for goals,” said Moepeng.   

Maatla Secondary School will be up against fifth time participants Arefadimeheng Secondary School from Dr Kenneth Kaunda Region.  The schools last won through to the National Finals in 2009. 

The winning school will represent the North West province in the National Finals happening in Gauteng from 12^th – 14^th July.

About COPA Coca-Cola:

·         Copa Coca-Cola is run under the auspices of the South African Schools Football Association (SASFA)

·         Coca-Cola started sponsoring Coca-Cola Football Stars in 2005.

·         Between 2005 and 2008 a TV reality element was introduced aimed at finding the top 18 players who would go on to compete internationally.  To keep interests high an elimination process was brought in to reduce players from approximately 70 down to 18 and the public witnessed the trials and tribulations that went into becoming a top football player.

·         In 2009 and 2010 the name changed to bring the tournament in line with Coca-Cola’s global youth strategy to COPA Coca-Cola.  The aim of the tournament remained the same i.e. to look for the top Under-19 school in the country and find the top 18 players who then competed against approximately 13 other African schools in the Copa Coca-Cola finals. 

·         In 2012 COPA Coca-Cola became an Under 15 tournament to align with the Copa Coca-Cola globally. 

·         The tournament starts off at Cluster level (this level is now complete as it happened in January)

·         Regional winners then compete in the Provincial Finals

·         Provincial winners then compete in the National Finals taking place from the 3^rd – 7^th July.

o   Prize money:

o   1^st prize - R150 000

o   2^nd prize – R100 000

o   3^rd prize – R60 000

o   Remaining six teams – R40 000 each

NORTH WEST
REGIONS	FIXTURES	VENUES
Dr Ruth Mompati	Maatla Secondary School	Matlosana stadium, Klerksdorp
Dr Kenneth Kaunda	Arefadimeheng Secondary school
Nkanga Modiri Molema	Still to be decided
Bojanala	Still to be decided