The
finest under-15 local football teams in the country will gather at Nike
Football Training Centre in Soweto on Friday, June 7 for the official draw and
kick-off of the highly anticipated Manchester United Premier Cup (MUPC) 2013
South Africa Finals.
Nike
and its host partner, the Soweto Local Football Association, will conduct this
year’s highly anticipated draw, marking the 20th anniversary of the most
competitive and prestigious under-15 football tournament in the world.
Ajax
Cape Town and SuperSport United will automatically be invited to this year’s
tournament as a result of finishing first and second respectively in the 2012
local finals.
Six
teams have qualified to compete in the MUPC after topping their regional logs
following the regional play-offs earlier this year. Qualifying teams include:
Diambars Football Academy (Johannesburg), Rosina Sedibane Sports School
(Johannesburg), SAFA Transnet School of Excellence (Johannesburg), Izichwe FC
(Kwa-Zulu Natal), Lucky Stars (Cape Town), while an invitation was extended to
Mamelodi Sundowns.
This
year's winning team will represent South Africa, joining 19 of the best
international teams, at the MUPC World Finals to be staged in Manchester,
United Kingdom, from 6th to 9th August 2013.
Last
year Ajax Cape Town represented South Africa at the MUPC Global Finals in
Shanghai.
“The
MUPC is the only tournament of its kind to afford under-15 footballers the
opportunity to compete at the ultimate level in professional football, and with
this year marking the 20th anniversary of The MUPC, this year’s tournament is
set to be extra special for all players and teams involved. Offering players
the chance to demonstrate individual talent and teamwork, the MUPC has seen
many football greats at the start of their careers including South Africa’s
Thulani Serero, Siboniso Gaxa, Sphele Bhengu, Cyril Mashego, Thulani Ngcepe, as
well as international stars, Theo Walcott and Andres Iniesta", said
Seruscka Naidoo, Nike Communications Manager for South Africa.
The
MUPC tournament is yet another demonstration of Nike’s commitment to
development in football, providing real opportunities for youngsters at the
highest level.
The
group matches will kick off on Friday, June 7 at 3pm. The knock-out matches and semi-finals are
scheduled to start from 9am on Sunday, June 9.
