Holders Kigoma will be in action against Lindi in the opening match of the Copa Coca-Cola championship that kicks off at the Karume Memorial Stadium in Dar es Salaam on June 24.

The kick off time is 10:00 hours but there will be three other matches to be played during the morning session at three different venues.

Morogoro meet Manyara at the Kawe grounds while Temeke host Kinondoni at Nyumbu venue and Kilimanjaro face South Unguja.

One of the tournament organisers within the football federation and renowned football coach, Salum Madadi, said competing teams have been divided into four groups. The final will be played at the Karume Memorial Stadium on July 15.

Group A has holders Kigoma, Arusha, Ilala, Pemba South, Lindi, Rukwa and Ruvuma. Teams forming the Group B are Iringa, North Pemba, Manyara, Unguja urban West, Morogoro, Mwanza and Tanga. Dodoma, North Unguja, Kinondoni, Mara, Mbeya, Mtwara and Temeke forms Group C while Group D has Kagera, Kilimanjaro, Unguja South, Coast, Shinyanga, Singida and Tabora.

Madadi underlined the tournament’s most important condition of age limit. All players are supposed not to have exceeded 17 years and eligibility is confined to those who were born from January 1, 1996.

TFF’s chairman for youth soccer Ahmed Mgoyi called coaches of the participating teams to attend the FIFA-sanctioned course.

The coaches have also been insisted to select players bearing in mind the age limitation to avoid inconvenience for age cheating.

Mgoyi said he is optimistic over good and trouble free tournament that would be a stage to highlight potential future footballers to replenish the senior national team in the future.

Coca-Cola Tanzania official Evans Mlelwa said his firm will continue to support teen soccer for the sake of promotion of the game in the country.

He also urged teams to display impressive and entertaining football right from the start of the tournament.