THE best of schools football will be on display when the 2014 Copa Coca-Cola football festival explodes into life in various venues today to culminate in the finals tomorrow at Gwanzura Stadium in Highfield.

SPORTS EDITOR

It has been a long road to these finals by the players and their technical teams — some of the most underrated in the country — but who have produced many a great star that have shone not only in local football, but international.

No one can even forget Peter Ndlovu, the Bulawayo Bullet, a product of Mzilikazi High School who spent more than a decade in England or Benjani Mwaruwari of Magwegwe, who also graced the international stage, including the UEFA Champions League.

Chemhanza High School of Mashonaland East Province are the defending champions and have made it no secret of their intentions in this year’s competition: they want to take it back.

Midlands representatives, Cheziya High School of Gokwe are equally confident.

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“My boys are raring to go. We are going to the finals with the aim of winning and nothing else. Our motto is ‘only the best is good enough — the best as you know can only be number one,” a buoyant Cheziya High School coach Noah Lunga told NewsDay Sport.

Mzilikazi High School coach Mgcini Ncube has also set his targets high: “We have been preparing very hard for the games and the team is ready for the challenge. As part of our preparations, we played two friendly games last week, drawing 1-1 against Sobukazi High and beating Bantu Rovers 1-0. I have no injury concerns for my team as all the players are fit,” Ncube said.

“Our main aim heading to the finals is that we will be looking to score early goals so as to keep our chances of advancing past the group stages alive. We are targeting to reach the semi-finals and after that then we will see what happens,” Ncube said.

Don’t forget the girlchild. Vainona coach Prosper Manzungu is itching for the top prize.

“Obviously we were disappointed last year, but we now have a chance to reclaim the title. We were obviously excited when we qualified for the finals because that was the biggest challenge in a province with many good teams, and now we are aiming at the title. That is our priority,” said Manzungu.

COPA COCA-COLA 2014 TEAM PRIZES- BOYS TEAM PRIZE (US)$ Winner $ 6 500.00 & Trophy Runner Up $5 000.00 & Trophy 3rd Winner $3 500.00 & Trophy 4th Winner $2 500.00 Loosing quarter finalists x 4 $1 500.00 The Rest x 4 $1 200.00

INDIVIDUAL PRIZE MONEY WINNER AMMOUNT (USD)$ Best Midfielder $100.00 Best Defender $ 100.00 Top Goal scorer $ 100.00 Best Goalkeeper $100.00 Player of Tournament $100.00 Winning Coach $200.00 Fair Play Team $1 000.00

*DREAM TEAM WILL GO TO KENYA FOR COPA COCA-COLA AFRICA FINALS TEAM PRIZES- GIRLS

TEAM PRIZE (US)$

Winner $3 000.00 & Trophy Runner Up $2 000.00 & Trophy 3rd Winner $1 500.00 4th Winner $1 000.00 Loosing quarter finalists x 4 $700.00 Rest of the Teams x 4 $500.00

INDIVIDUAL PRIZE MONEY WINNER AMMOUNT (USD)$ Top Goal scorer $100.00 Best Goalkeeper $100.00 Player of Tournament $100.00 Winning Coach $200.00 Fair Play Team $500.00

*DREAM TEAM WILL ATTEND COSASA GAMES IN ZAMBIA

Groups Boys Under-16 Group A: Chemhanza (Defending champions), Masvingo (Pamushana), Mash Central (Chipadze) Group B: Harare (Oriel), Bulawayo (Mzilikazi), Midlands (Cheziya) Group C: Mash East (Mukondwa), Mat North (Chinonge), Manicaland (Mutare Boys High) Group D: Churchill (hosts), Mash West (Vimbai), Mat North (Mzingwane) Girls Under-17 Group A: Roosevelt (Hosts), Mat South (Muzimuni), Mash Central (St Francis) Group B: Mash East (Mwanza), Bulawayo (Magwegwe), Masvingo (Chidzikwe) Group C: Midlands (Gato), Chidyamakono (Defending champs), Mat North (Chilisa) Group D: Harare (Vainona), Manicaland (Nyamaruru), Mash West (Sodbury)
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