DOHA: Qatar Football Association (QFA) Director of Marketing and Communications, Khalid Al Kuwari has called on the public to support the COPA Coca-Cola tournament which will get under way on May 10.
In partnership with the QFA, the grassroots football initiative for teenagers will return to Qatar for the second edition, in an attempt to help promote healthy living and participation in an active lifestyle. Teams of eleven players aged between 13 and 15 will compete on professional sized pitches.
Al Kuwari said in a press conference yesterday: “We are delighted to be partnering with Coca-Cola Middle East for the 2013 COPA Coca-Cola tournament in Doha given that this tournament is in line with this year’s Emir Cup 2013 vision to encourage the public to participate in the different local football tournaments that are organised by QFA and its partners. This initiative represents a good opportunity for young Qatari players to showcase their talents, and it represents a continuation to our vision and strong will to support and harness young Qatari talents.”
He added: “As many of you know, QFA has worked effortlessly to make football relevant to youth across the country and QFA is honoured to provide a platform for the youth to showcase their talents.
“This is one of the many community events that QFA is supporting. We also have many community events that we organise alongside the Emir Cup to present the opportunity to compete in the most famous sporting activity in football.”
The QFA official pointed out: “We call on everyone to support this tournament. It’s important to promote and encourage the culture of sport and to promote the game to the large community.”
Mohammed Akeel – Managing Director (Bahrain and Qatar) of Coca-Cola Bottling Company said: “Through football, the world’s most popular sport, Coca-Cola identified a need to connect with the youth who aspire to be professional soccer players. Thus, we brought about this new grassroots initiative to the Middle East that reiterates the pillars that the Coca-Cola Company believes in.
“Encouraging young Arab football players to participate in COPA Coca-Cola is important to Coca-Cola, because it acts as a stepping stone for the professional leagues. By 2022, we hope to see our Arab COPA players representing their countries at the World Cup in Qatar.”
Akeel emphasised he was eager to work in accordance to the Qatar 2030 vision, and said the ‘QFA gave us a good opportunity to promote a healthy lifestyle’.
Although no cash prizes will be available to the winners, Akeel did say the main prize was a lifetime experience. He said: “The idea is not to pay but show the experience and talents of what football and sport can do.”
Using football as the platform, QFA supports this youth engagement initiative as it will facilitate access to more football in a non-competitive environment in order to support the excitement of an active and healthy lifestyle amongst Qatar’s youth.
Altogether approximately 100 matches will be played in a round-robin system and then a knock-out stage. Matches will last 15 or 40 minutes, depending on the age and will be played at North Madinat Khalifa Ground on Fridays only.
COPA Coca-Cola was established in Mexico in 1998. Since then, the tournament has gone from strength to strength and is now played across five continents.
In 2009, Nigerian teenager Mikel Agu was a participant in COPA Coca-Cola, and has gone on to represent FC Porto in the Portuguese Primeira Liga.
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