NAIROBI, Kenya, May 5 – Kenya’s premier U-17 football tournament COPA Coca Cola heads into week seven on Saturday with matches scheduled for Bomet, Kirinyaga, Nakuru, Kiambu, Elgeyo Marakwet and Baringo counties.
Nakuru games are set for Gilgil Stadium, Thika Stadium will host the Kiambu fixtures while Machakos matches are slated for Athi River.
Bomet match-ups will be at Siongiri Grounds, Baringo matches are set for Kabaranet High while action in Elgeyo Marakwet is at Kapcherop.
With the provincial finals just under two months away, all teams will be gunning for victory and a place in the national finals that are set for Kisumu.
The Bomet games will be opened by a boys’ Group A clash between Bomet Youth and Kabingut Secondary.
Youth will round off their assignments against Embomos Secondary before Kabingut face a test from Sigor boys. In Group B, Sotik Youth take on Kaplong Boys while Seanin Soccer Center face Kongasis Youth.
In the girls’ category, Mara Secondary take on Chobonei Girls while Chesoen Ladies lock horns with Siongiri Girls.
In Baringo, hosts Kabaranet High School face Ebenezer in the boys’ category before Sacho take on Oinobmoi in the boy’s category. Ossen Secondary have a tough assignment against Pemwai Girls while Kapropita Secondary take on their counterparts from Marigat.
In Kiambu, the boys matches in Group A pit Gathungururu against Kanunga High before Kairi Secondary face Limuru Olympics.
Group B promises to be entertaining with a four way battle between Thika High, Alliance Boys, Mangu High and Karuri Secondary.
Mangu will open proceedings when they tackle Thika High before facing off with Alliance Boys in their next fixture. Thika lock horns with Karuri in their second match before rounding off their group assignments against Alliance.
In Nakuru’s Group A boys’ matches, Machanga take on Makadara and Flamingo High School in succession while Makadara face Molo Allstars in their second game.
In Group B, Darul face Mwenge while Whispers lock horns with CTC Serville RFC. Since its introduction in Kenya three years ago, COPA Coca-Cola has created opportunities for thousands of young footballers, some of whom have gone on to play in the Kenya Premier League (KPL) as well as representing Kenya in a number of age grade international football tournaments.
Some of the players include Thika United trio Steven Odhiambo, Jackson Macharia and Joseph Kuria, Emmanuel Tostao and Edward Seda both of AFC Leopards, Edwin Mwaura who turns out for Rangers FC, Western Stima duo Dan Waweru and Ali Ahmed and Felix Omondi of Gor Mahia.
This year’s tournament will culminate in a COPA reality TV show which will capture the dreams, talents, challenges, performance of key select players at the COPA tournament, leadership skills resilience and all that goes on during the five months of the activation.