A panel comprising eleven of Kenya’s soccer personalities was today unveiled to scout the best talent that will make up the 2009 COPA Coca-Cola Dream Team.

The panel has been selected for the immense contribution they have made to football in past and present times, and can be credited for having identified some of Kenya’s most prolific footballers over a 20-year period.

The talent scouts will attend regional games to be held countrywide, starting with Thika and Nyeri this weekend. They will advise on the best talent to be included in the teams to play at the tournament’s finals where the COPA Coca-Cola 2009 Dream Team will be selected.

The 2009 Copa Coca-Cola talent scouts are:

1. Former Harambee Stars National Coach and current FKL Technical Director, Mr. Patrick Naggi;
2. Former Harambee Stars National Coach and current FKL Regional Director for Coast Province, Mr. Mohammed Kheri;
3. Former Harambee Stars National Coach, Mr. Jacob “Ghost” Mulee;
4. Former National team Coach, Mr. Chris Makokha
5. Former Harambee Stars Team Manager, Mr. Sammy Nyongesa
6. Former AFC Leopards great and current KPL Regional Director for Western Province,Mr. Everett Khayota;
7. FKL Regional Director for Nyanza Province, Mr. James Omondi;
8. FKL Regional Director for Central Province, Mr. Richard Kanyi;
9. FKL Regional Director for North Eastern Province, Mr. Noordin Mohammed;
10. FKL Regional Director for Nairobi Province, Mr. Vince Ombiji
11. FKL Regional Director for Eastern Province, Mr. Peter Mansa

Coca-Cola Senior Public Affairs and Government Relations Manager, Dr. Nelson Githinji, and KPL CEO, Jack Oguda, unveiled the team at a Press Conference held at the Coca-Cola East and Central Africa head office in Nairobi.

During the same event, Coca-Cola handed over football kits and balls that will be used by all the participating teams countrywide. The COPA Coca-Cola 2009 games are being managed by the KPL and FKL which will provide FIFA accredited referees and coaches.

The 2009 edition of COPA Coca-Cola will involve 256 teams (up from 20 in 2007 and 40 in 2008) of under 17s (mostly between ages 13 and 15) drawn from both communities and schools in various regions.

The tournament begins with playoffs to shortlist teams that will make it to the regional competition, with 16 teams qualifying per region. The teams will proceed to play three rounds at the regional level to get one team.

The Scouting Panel will advise on the best players, at each level, selected to move forward. The winning team will represent the region in the finals to be held in Nairobi between the 24th April and 2nd May, 2009.

That winning team - The COPA Coca-Cola Dream Team 2009 - will travel to South Africa for an International Soccer Camp to undergo world-class training and coaching.

The Dream Team will also have a chance to play in the International COPA Coca-Cola (ICCC) tournament to be held in South Africa in 2010. Additionally, they will participate in the Confederations Cup as ball-boys and spectators.

Dr. Githinji said Coca-Cola was keen to develop grassroots youth talent through the COPA Cola-Cola and other avenues.

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