Copa Coca-Cola football stakes up by K6m
Stakes in the Copa Coca-Cola Schools Football Championships have been raised from last year’s K30 million (about $75 000) to K36 million (about $90 000).
Making the announcement during a press briefing at their premises in Blantyre yesterday, Carlsberg Malawi senior brands manager for non-alcoholic beverages Titha Mbilizi said the increase follows the outstanding attention the annual competition has attracted from the country’s schools.
At least 1 087 schools have registered to contest in this year’s event as compared to 367 schools that took part in last year’s championships.
“It is encouraging to note that many schools have shown interest to take part in this year’s competition and we could not hesitate to respond with sponsorship hike,” said Mbilizi.
She said the theme for the 2014 competition is Bigger Picture as they want to link the event to this year’s World Cup in Brazil and “we want to drive the hopeful teenagers into habouring ambitions of becoming great stars within the next four years.”
According to Copa Coca-Cola Football communications manager Towera Munthali, the 2014 contest, which was launched last weekend in Mponela, Dowa, will have zonal finals on March 8, district finals on March 22, divisional finals from 4-6 April and national finals from 1-3 August at Dedza Stadium.
“We will have a break between April and August to give chance to pupils to peacefully sit for their school examinations. We want to promote education and ensure that pupils priotise their studies,” she said.
Joyce Banda Foundation (JBF) are the defending national champions. For their success last year, the school’s soccer team travelled to South Africa where they took part in the World Cup Trophy Tour courtesy of Carlsberg Malawi Limited.
