Clapham High School from Pretoria West have successfully defended their COPA Coca-Cola U15 Football Tournament Gauteng title.
The school won the provincial tournament hosted by Coca-Cola in conjunction with the South African Schools Football Association (SASFA), held at the Swaneville Sports Complex in Kagiso on Saturday after defeating Bophelo Secondary School from Mayfair by 4–0 in the final.
COPA Coca-Cola is a global initiative that gives millions of young football fans a chance to come together and celebrate their passion for football, and also affords them the opportunity to realise their greatest potential by living an active healthy lifestyle.
This South African initiative searches for raw talent to find the best U15 school teams, as well as the most promising U15 talent in the country by conducting level-by-level knockout competitions.
Furthermore, COPA Coca-Cola has added a new innovation to the 2015 edition of the tournament by introducing the ‘Which Part Will You Play’ campaign which recognises that every footballer plays an important role in their team beyond football skills. Coca-Cola will be selecting an invitational side, which will travel to the COPA Coca-Cola National Finals, comprising of 11 individuals who epitomise the key components which make up a successful football team.
Siya Mkhwanazi, a left back from Bophelo Secondary School was selected to join the invitational side after being identified as ‘The Rebel’ for inspiring his teammates and for his intellectual passes from his left foot.
“This was my school’s first participation in the COPA Coca-Cola tournament, it has been a great experience, not just for me but for my teammates as well. I have always admired Simba Marumo; he was one of my favourite players back then when he was still playing at Mamelodi Sundowns. To play in front of him and impress him at the game has been a great honour for me.
I could never have dreamed of this and look forward to the National Finals”, says 14 year old Mkhwanazi.
Mkhwanazi will join nine other character selectees at the COPA Coca-Cola National Finals scheduled for 23–26 September 2015.
GAUTENG RESULTS
TEAMS
Esokwazi Secondary School
Kingsway High School
Clapham High School
AB Phokompe Secondary School
Boksburg High School
Mahlasedi High School
Prestige College
Bophelo Secondary School