13th October, 2015
Football fans across Nigeria would soon experience school football at its best, as the 2015 edition of COPA Coca-Cola local national championship kicks this October.
The international youth football tournament which is organised annually by the leading global beverage giant, Coca-Cola, helps to identify and reward footballing teen talents and creates an opportunity for them to pursue their passion for football, helping them to bond in the process, form new friendships and develop significant team skills.
Themed, “Everything for Football”, the 2015 football tournament is divided into two phases, “Everyday Football” and the “Tournament”. In the first phase, which is Everyday Football, communities would be provided with basic football equipment and kits at 10 selected playing fields.
There would also be the creation of the ‘Legacy Pitch’ which is the renovation of a football arena into a COPA mini-stadium.
The ‘Tournament’ which is the second phase, would see 150 schools participating across 10 key cities in Nigeria.
It would involve a coaching clinic, where participating teenagers will get the unique opportunity to learn new tricks and flicks that will elevate their football artistry from inspiring coaches and some former Nigerian internationals.
From the tournament in Nigeria, two Most Valuable Players (MVP) will be selected to feature in COPA Coca-Cola International camp in Germany in 2016.
Speaking about the initiative, Marketing Director, Coca-Cola, Patricia Jemibewon, said “Statistics show 1.1 billion serves of Coke are enjoyed every day around the globe, while 240 million people play football regularly. United, Coca-Cola and Football can influence society like nothing else.
“Football is a great life-coach that teaches children skills on the pitch that are invaluable in every aspect of life. Coca-Cola wants them to believe that, through COPA Coca-Cola, they can make their world a better place.”
Jemibewon also reaffirmed COPA Coca-Cola’s enduring commitment to its goal of creating wide-ranging physical activity programmes throughout the world that will inspire more young players to be active and healthy through their shared passion for football.
She also noted that COPA Coca-Cola is a proof-point of the Coca-Cola Billion Reasons To Believe campaign which portrays the brand’s strong belief in the potentials of Nigerian teenagers.