Coca-Cola 7's: It's in the Braga; Kids' tournament winners target brilliant training trip to Portugal.

SCOTTISH school kids are to go further than Berti Vogts' team by playing in a European Championship Finals venue.

The wining boys and girls teams in this year's Coca-Cola 7's will land a fabulous four-day training trip to Porto and Braga in October.

And they will follow in the footsteps of the superstars who will play in this summer's Euro 2004 tournament in Portugal.

Part of the prize for the winning boys and girls teams is a chance to turnout in Porto's revamped Bessa Stadium and taste the atmosphere Berti's boys will miss. The winners also get to watch a Porto game.

Last season's triumphant teams from Denny High and Mint law Academy savoured the sizzling Spanish sensation of a trip to Barcelona's world famous Nou Camp Stadium.

The Coca-Cola 7's backed by the Daily Record have gone from strength to strength and the fourth tournament is the now the biggest and best. More than 5000 boys and girls are taking part in this season's glittering event.

They'll get the chance to play at Hampden and selected SPL stadia while receiving top-class coaching from former Old Firm stars Murdo Mac Leod and Sandy Clark.

The first round involves more than 5000 players before the tournament heads for the nerve shredding second round at top SPL grounds where 1600 take part.

Then the 7's move on to Lesser Hampdenwhere 640 battle it out in the regional finals to earn a fabulous final slot at Hampden.

Teachers are not forgotten because 36 will compete in their own Challenge Match on the hallowed turf this summer.

And 160 pupils will display their skill and determination to lift the coveted Coca-Cola 7's Cup and clinch that super trip to Portugal. The tournament has helped put the fizz back into football at youth level and this year the coaching team that includes Sandy Clark has been boosted by the arrival of Record columnist Murdo Mac Leod.

He won every domestic honour in the game and played for Scotland in the World Cup finals.

Mac Leod also coached Celtic with Dutch master Wim Jansen as the Hoops ended Rangers' bid for an historic 10 titles in a row.

He is now bringing his wealth of experience from playing and coaching at the highest level and is looking forward to challenges at each phase of the tournament.

Mac Leod said: ''Small-sided games are the best way to encourage kids and develop their skills.

''I remember schools football with small children playing on huge parks and everyone chasing the ball. Either they did that or they kept their shape and never got a kick of the ball.

''But withs mall-sided games on smaller pitches, everyone gets to play.''

Mac Leod hopes the Coca Cola 7's will benefit from the tips and coaching lessons he learned during his career with Dumb art on, Celtic, Borussia Dortmund, Hibs and Scotland.

You can be sure it will.

CAPTION(S):

CHAMP: Mintlaw's Polly Dolman; TWO CAN PLAY AT THIS GAME: Record columnist Murdo MacLeod will be teaming up with Sandy Clark to add his wealth of coaching experience to this year's cracking Coca-Cola 7's tournament