Orlando Pirates juniors descend on the United Kingdom to participate in the annual Manchester United Premier Cup Global Finals
The Orlando Pirates under-15 squad is one of twenty of the best under-15 football teams from around the world to participate in this year’s Manchester United Premier Cup Global Finals in Manchester, United Kingdom from 3 to 6 August.
Orlando Pirates are no strangers to the global finals of the MUPC tournament, as this year marks their sixth appearance at the MUPC Global Finals.
The tournament, sponsored by Nike, will be hosted by Manchester United at their Carrington Training Facility from 3 to 5 August, with the grand finale to be played at Old Trafford’s Theatre of Dreams on 6 August. The opening ceremony and official draw will be held on 2 August.
“Nike is proud to have Orlando Pirates representing our country and enabling these youngsters to experience competitive football at the highest level in their age group,” says Seruscka Naidoo, Communications Manager, Nike South Africa.
“Orlando Pirates have earned their right to compete in the MUPC Global Finals in Manchester, and Nike has ensured that all criteria is met with.”
The squad has been involved in intensive training since winning the South African regional finals in June, edging Bidvest Wits out in the Final. They will depart for Manchester on Saturday, 31 July.
Orlando Pirates will be hoping to build on past experience at the MUPC and are determined to ensure that a minimum objective of qualification to the knockout stages is achieved this season.
The hosts Manchester United will be joined by fellow England representatives Chelsea FC who have qualified for the tournament for the first time.
Holders FC Barcelona will not defend the crown they successfully won last year as Valencia FC qualified to represent Spain on the global stage. Valencia FC lead a whole host of first-time qualifiers from Europe that include FC Metz (France), Catania Calcio (Italy), Fenerbahce (Turkey), Hannover 96 (Germany) and PSV Eindhoven (Netherlands).
Pachuca of Mexico, last year’s beaten Finalists, will be hoping to go one better in 2011 and lift the coveted MUPC trophy. The United States of America will be represented by Jomo Sono’s former team New York Cosmos. Illustrious Argentinean super-club Boca Juniors will be joined by fellow South American outfits Sporting Club Bahia of Brazil and Chile’s Universidad de Chile.
Japanese representation comes in the form of Kyoto Sanga who will be playing their second consecutive MUPC tournament and will be joined by Korea’s Ulsan Hyundai Middle School who are also familiar qualifies. Also qualifying from Asia are China’s Hubei FA and Thailand will be represented Bankok Christian College.
New Zealand will represent Oceania with Onehunga Sports qualifying for the first time. Orlando Pirates will be joined by fellow African qualifiers Right to Dream Academy from Ghana who are making their third trip to Manchester.
