Namibian Senior Secondary School football teams are well
prepared for giving their all to try and walk away with the Coca Cola Youth Cup
2005 and the prize money that is up for grabs. This is the second year of the
tournament, which begins on Monday, 20 June, and will be on until the final
weekend on Saturday, 6 August. The Coca Cola Youth Cup was officially launched
by the Minister of Youth, National Service, Sport and Culture, John Mutorwa, on
Wednesday, 8 June at the Windhoek Country Club. Mutorwa said that what came ? ?
out of this competition contributes to other sectors of our endeavours of
education and health sector?. The theme for this year’s competition is ?Youth
Celebrating in a Magical Way? and the schools that did not get coverage last
year would be covered this year. According to Mutorwa, it is good when ?we plan
things out of which we have many results, positive to what we are aiming for?.
He further stated that ?sport is the most powerful magnetic tool to bring people
together. We are extremely grateful that Coca Cola is willing to sponsor for the
second time.? According to Frik Oosthuizen, the general manager of Namibia
Beverages, the sports directorate will have regional representatives present at
the games to select their best players out of the entire national tournament.
And the selected players will represent Namibia in the COSSASA Cup 2005. The
Minister said that the Coca Cola Youth Cup should be used by national team
players; selectors should use and see this competition as an opportunity to
scout for possible talent for the national team. He went on to say that the
selectors should not only look at league team players, but also use this as an
opportunity for scouting for young talent to build and prepare the Brave
Warriors for the 2010 World Cup to be hosted by South Africa. Last year’s
winners of the cup was the Caprivi Secondary School that walked away with the
coveted prize of N$70 000. During last year’s competition, a total of 128 games
were played and 560 goals scored. For every goal scored, a N$100 was to be
donated to the fight against HIV/Aids. In total, N$56 000 was raised for the
fight against HIV/AIDS. ?It is the responsibility of corporate organisations to
play an their role against this pandemic,? said Oosthuizen. Mutorwa said that he
could testify on the spot about the enormous impact the prizes had on the
schools based on the levels of development that took place in the various
constituencies. The Caprivi Secondary School used some of the money to refurbish
two classrooms, sport fields and acquire computers. The other schools were also
able to acquire computers and sports equipment. ?It gives school-going children
the experience of a lifetime and an opportunity to reach for their goals. It’s
important for Coca Cola to play a key role in developing talent in this country.
We are indeed pleased to be involved in a sports campaign, which has such a fine
return aspect in being able to assist with the education, health and soccer
development of the youth in Namibia? said Oosthuizen. The Minister also praised
the discipline of the players the previous year. He also said ?We have to work
together in terms of promoting sports. I wish you all well all of you who are
going to participate in this cup.? Oosthuizen thanked the media for their
continued support. The total amount of the cash prizes is N$122 500, and the
winners will walk away with N$70 000.