Copa Coca-Cola youth football tournament launched

Upper Hill's Ibrahim Alio (left) dribbles past Olympics High School's Rodgers Madegwa during the curtain raiser of Copa Coca-Cola football tournament launch on May 26, 2018 at Upper Hill High School. PHOTO | CHRIS OMOLLO |

What you need to know:

  • Some 5,000 boys and girls schools ‘will compete in the tournament this year, following a new three-year partnership between sponsors Coca-Cola and Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association valued at Sh22 million.

The 2018 Copa Coca-Cola football competition was launched in Nairobi on Saturday, with organisers of the youth tournament using the platform to celebrate the success achieved over the last 10 years.

Some 5,000 boys and girls schools will compete in the tournament this year, following a new three-year partnership between sponsors Coca-Cola and Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association valued at Sh22 million.

During the six-week competition, Coca-Cola has undertaken to not only fully kit all participating schools across the country, but the soft drinks giant has also purchased trophies and medals for all competing teams from the zonal, county, and regional levels of the championship.

“Coca-Cola is glad to offer students a stepping-stone to realising their sporting potential and to achieve their dreams at a tender age,” Rodney Nzioka, Coca-Cola’s senior franchise brand manager, said in Nairobi during the launch.

Some of the players who have been nurtured through the tournament include Spain-based forward Michael Olunga, Kenyan Premier League stars Peter Odhiambo (Gor Mahia), Daniel Mwaura (Mathare United), Robinson Kamura (AFC Leopards) and Harun Nyakha (Wazito FC).