Taking place from 26thJuly – 31st July, the Camp in Berlin, Germany is the pinnacle of a season which has seen more than 1.3 million teens compete in over 60 countries.
Now in its 27th year, Copa Coca-Cola unites football-loving teens in every continent around the world, promoting an active lifestyle and encouraging values that are the foundation of life and sportsmanship.
Two skilled teenagers from Nigeria have been invited alongside young players from a total of 27 countries to attend this year’s Copa Coca-Cola International Camp, having competed through a series of regional rounds to participate in a national championship before being selected for the global tournament.
The teenagers representing Nigeria are Chidiebere Chibuzo Ibe and Peter Osaze Imafidon and are already in camp. Ibe, a product of the Kanu/Greenspring summer camp, is a gifted attacking midfielder who has participated in several local and international youth competitions including the popular Nottingham Youth Tournament. Imafidon who was discovered at the Shell/NNPC school competition, is a disciplined talent who has won laurels at national youth games and the recent summer vacation competition in the United Kingdom.
Ahead of the tournament, a Coca-Cola commissioned study was undertaken by Nielsen Research to understand the role that football plays in young people’s lives. The opinions of over 11,000 male and female teenagers across 16 countries were polled to reveal that football supports the learning of important life skills such as teamwork, confidence and sociability. Eight out of ten (79 per cent) young people said playing football helps them to develop essential skills in teamwork that can be applied in other areas such as school or work and over 42 per cent say that playing football has helped boost their confidence. Furthermore, six out of 10 (60 per cent) young players consider the discipline learnt on the pitch helps them achieve more in their lives.
Taking into account the research findings, this year’s Copa Coca-Cola International Camp will be themed around, ‘Which Part Will You Play?’ recognizing that every footballer plays an important part in their team and this goes beyond football skills. It is about character and the positive traits players bring, both on and off the field.
The final day will culminate with tournament finals, a farewell dinner and the announcement of the 2016 Copa Coca-Cola ambassadors, who will continue the Copa Coca-Cola legacy in future years.
According to the Marketing Director, Coca-Cola Nigeria Limited, Patricia Jemibewon, “We are delighted to welcome over 100 teens from around the world to Berlin to celebrate their love for football. With an action-packed schedule, the teens attending, including two from Nigeria will have the opportunity to gain skills, enjoy new experiences with new friends from across the world and even meet FIFA World Cup™ champions in an inspiring atmosphere.
Jemibewon concluded, ‘’We hope the Copa Coca Cola International Camp will provide memories for a lifetime and inspire teens to further pursue their football passion for years to come. It is also in line with the objective of our new Billion Reasons To Believe Campaign which is to inspire and empower young people, while challenging them to believe in themselves and achieve their dreams.”
Image credit: Copa Coca-Cola (Twitter)
@CopaCocaCola
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