The Coca-Cola Company on Thursday officially opens the 2017 Copa Coca-Cola National Tournament in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
This is an annual series of games that inspire youth to hone their abilities, learn the positives of teamwork and, for a gifted few, even prepare for a career in football. Copa Coca-Cola is one of the world’s largest brand-supported, youth football programs to date. The National Tournament will run for the next several months.
This year Copa Coca-Cola officially opened by bringing together sports journalists, experts, former and current national football team players from around the country to engage in a panel discussion called the “The Ethiopian COPA Experience and Beyond…”. This panel discussion has been instrumental in opening discussions on how to grow the Ethiopian football industry over the years. Scientific figures and data were presented highlighting the status of the sport nationally. Experts in the area have stressed that programs like the Copa Coca-Cola strongly encourage youth to seek their athletic potential. The press conference was held after a workshop highlighting the Copa Coca-Cola 2017 itinerary.
“I wish in my teens I had the chance to be part of program like COPA which would have influenced my skills and perhaps opened doors to play internationally. It is important to invest in the youth as they carry the mantle,” said Seyoum Tesfaye, current Dedebit Club and Ethiopia National team player.
Copa Coca-Cola is a part of the “Taste the Feeling” campaign – which unites all Coke Trademark brands under one creative umbrella – that started to roll out in March 2017 around the world. The campaign raises awareness of the many reasons to remain hopeful in a challenging world. Copa Coca-Cola is held in partnership with the Ethiopian Football Federation (EFF) and the Ethiopian Youth Sports Academy and aims to create a venue where teenagers under 15 can showcase their talents.
With a population just over 100 million people, Ethiopia is one of the most important markets in Africa for The Coca-Cola Company. “Ethiopia stands to become one of Coca-Cola’s largest markets for growth in the world, and that’s why we see Copa Coca-Cola giving back to current and future consumers. The Copa Coca-Cola full budget for Ethiopia amounts to ETB 12 million,” noted Ms. Tigist Getu, Brand Manager for Coca-Cola Ethiopia.
The Coca-Cola Company is the world’s largest beverage company, refreshing consumers with more than 500 sparkling and still brands and nearly 3,900 beverage choices. Led by Coca-Cola, one of the world’s most valuable and recognizable brands, our company’s portfolio features 21 billion-dollar brands, 19 of which are available in reduced-, low- or no-calorie options. These brands include Diet Coke, Coca-Cola Zero, Fanta, Sprite, Dasani, vitamin water, Powerade, Minute Maid, Simply, Del Valle, Georgia and Gold Peak.
Through the world’s largest beverage distribution system, the company is the No. 1 provider of both sparkling and still beverages. More than 1.9 billion servings of its beverages are enjoyed by consumers in more than 200 countries each day.
With an enduring commitment to building sustainable communities, the company is focused on initiatives that reduce our environmental footprint, create a safe, inclusive work environment for our associates, and enhance the economic development of the communities where we operate. Together with bottling partners, Coca –Cola rank among the world’s top 10 private employers with more than 700,000 system associates.