JK to receive World Cup trophy again

Dar es Salaam. The National Stadium will be transformed on November 30 into a Coca-Cola Fifa World Cup Trophy Tour village.

Soccer fanatics will be allowed the ultimate, one-of-a-kind fan experience as they will have an up-close encounter with the 6.175-kilogramme, 18-carat solid gold trophy.

And President Jakaya Kikwete, who is earmarked to grace the occasion, will be receiving the iconic trophy for the third time since he assumed power in 2005.

Speaking during the official launch of the world’s most coveted sports icon and symbol of football supremacy yesterday, director of Sports Development in the ministry of Information, Youth, Culture and Sports, Leonard Thadeo, said no one will be allowed to touch it except the president.

Thadeo, however, assured soccer-crazy Tanzanians that they will get a chance to take souvenir pictures with the authentic Fifa World Cup trophy. According to the official, the government will form a special committee for the trophy tour that will work to ensure it is received peacefully before crossing to South Africa and other countries.

He said although Tanzania is not doing well in international competitions, the youngsters will be inspired by the tour and build mentality that one day, their country will qualify for the world’s biggest football competitions.

“Once again we have been honoured to host the trophy; we are sure that through this tour, our country will be promoted across the world and also inspire our players to have the dream of winning the trophy in the future,” said Thadeo.

For his part, Coca-Cola Tanzania country manager Yebeltal Getachew, noted that the Fifa World Cup Trophy Tour would give thousands of fans something to remember in life. “Through this tour and other promotions leading up to the 2014 Fifa World Cup, Coca-Cola will celebrate the passion and excitement of football as we endeavour to make this the most inclusive World Cup ever,” he said.

Getachew said the 2013 FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour draws on the huge success of the previous global tours held in 2006 and 2009 with millions of fans around the world enjoying a closer look at football’s most famous prize. He said that the tour is regarded as the longest global tour of the Fifa World Cup Trophy.

Visiting 88 countries during a nine month journey, the Fifa World Cup Trophy Tour by Coca-Cola will be the first ever pan-Latin America tour, with events in 39 countries across the region that is home to the host nation.

The tour will also be visiting 50 new countries that have never had the opportunity to host it.

The tour has been developed through an exclusive partnership between Fifa and Coca-Cola.

he company is a Fifa partner at the highest level and is one of the organisation’s longest-standing corporate partners.