COPA Coca-Cola® gave 11 boys the opportunity of a lifetime today at the tournament’s national finals at Tempe Stadium in Bloemfontein. The boys, who were selected by South African legend, Simba Marumo, to represent the COPA Coca-Cola® Which Part Will You Play all-star team, took on a Bloemfontein Celtic academy side, putting on a highly impressive display of attacking football. The match ended with a 1 -0 win for the Which Part Will You Play All Star team.
The COPA Coca-Cola® Which Part Will You Play all-star team was formed after a season long search taking place across South Africa. Marumo and his selection panel visited all nine provincial finals tournaments on the lookout for young footballers embodying and representing the dynamic and unique roles needed to make up a successful team – The Rock, the Heart, the Perfectionist, the Rebel, the Joker, the Impossible, the Machine, the Artist, the Mastermind and the Legend. Players fitting these characteristics were selected to form the team, and act as personifications of the values COPA Coca-Cola® aims to instill in its young participants.
Marumo, who also took on the role as the team’s coach said, “We were astounded by the level of talent uncovered. The selected boys not only showcased their skills throughout the regional and provincial phases of the campaign, but they also served as examples to their teammates of the values all footballers need to learn if they are to be successful. They richly deserved the opportunity given to them today and I can’t wait to follow their careers from here on.”
COPA Coca-Cola® has a rich history of developing football heroes. Top local stars such as Andile Jali, Happy Jele, Mandla Masango and Excellent Walaza and more recently, Notha Ngcobo have all taken part in the tournament and have gone on to have successful professional careers. The COPA Coca-Cola® Which Part Will You Play initiative aims to give more young talent the opportunity to follow a similar path.
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Fetsi Mbele, Senior Communications Manager: Brand Experience, Coca-Cola South Africa added, “Coca-Cola South Africa would like to congratulate our Which Part Will You Play All-stars on their stellar performance against a very established Bloemfontein Celtic Academy side. COPA Coca-Cola® is not only about developing footballers but also aims to develop a generation of well-rounded young South Africans. These boys not only illustrated their immense talent to the country but also showed their peers the values young footballers should aspire to.”
“This has been an exciting experience for all of us, I have made new friends and many new memories. I am looking forward to being part of the COPA Coca-Cola family. Thank you for this.” Said an elated Mailula who was Playing the part of The Rock.
The COPA Coca-Cola Which Part Will You Play All-star team was made up of the following players:
o The Impossible – Craig Swart representing Western Cape
o The Underdog – Masomele Maliwa representing Eastern Cape
o The Joker – Christo Saal representing Northern Cape
o The Rock – Cassius Mailula representing Gauteng
o The Machine – Khuno Phukubje representing Gauteng
o The Rebel – Oarabile Moshweu representing North West Province
o The Heart – Saba Sikhakhane representing KZN
o The Perfectionist – Siyamthande Mfeka representing KZN
o The Legend – Tshepang Tsholo representing Free State
o The Mastermind – Moremi Kgomokaboya representing Limpopo
o The Artist – Freedom Malamule representing Mpumalanga
