No youth Cup this year: Veii

The popular Coca-Cola Football Youth Cup will not be staged this year due to delays encountered during contract renewal negotiations.

The Sport Ministry Director Dr Vetumbuavi Veii told Nampa yesterday that the youth cup tournament will be postponed to next year, after the parties failed to agree on a new contract.

“Contract renewal talks were delayed after the then Coca-Cola Operations Manager, India Katjivena, left that company. From there, talks stalled”, he explained.

Katjivena was responsible for the talks between the Ministry and Coca-Cola.

Veii pointed out that a contract was supposed to be sorted out before August this year, but it is now in fact too late since year-end school exams are already around the corner.

“By the time we were about to reach an agreement, it was just too late,” Veii said.

The youth tournament that attracts football players from more than 130 secondary schools nationally will be missed by those youngsters who would have enjoy showcasing their talents.

When asked whether a substitute competition was probable, Veii said such an alternative does not exist.

He however, consoled those learners who might feel that they are left out by saying negotiations will be kicking back on later for the next year’s youth cup.

“We are optimistic that next year, a Coca-Cola Football Youth Cup contract will be renewed for three more years as usual,” he noted.

Coca Cola had invested more than N$700 000 in prize monies since the Youth Cup’s inception in 2004, and the tournament also made a huge contribution towards uplifting school facilities. – Nampa

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