Hosted
by Nike and local partner, the Soweto Local Football Association, conducted the
draw of the 19th international edition of this prestigious tournament.
Orlando
Pirates and Bidvest Wits were automatically seeded as a result of finishing
first and second respectively in the 2011 local finals.
Five
teams: Ajax Cape Town (Western Cape), Diambars FC (Gauteng), Izichwe FC
(Kwazulu-Natal), School of Excellence and Supersport United (Gauteng) qualified
to compete in the MUPC after topping their regional logs following the regional
play-offs earlier this year, 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 Global Finals to be staged in Shanghai, China
in mid-July.
Last
year Orlando Pirates represented South Africa for the second time at the MUPC
Global Finals in Manchester, United Kingdom, and became the first African side
to reach the MUPC final. The team were the Global runners- up.
"The
MUPC is the only tournament of its kind to afford under-15 footballers the
opportunity to compete at the highest and most competitive level in
professional football. Their time is now
to demonstrate individual talent and teamwork that will ultimately give their
team the competitive advantage to be crowned MUPC champions," said
Seruscka Naidoo, Nike Communications Manager for South Africa.
The
group matches will kick off on Saturday, June 9 from 9am. The knock-out matches
and semi-finals are scheduled to start from 9am on Sunday, June 10.
Grouping:
Pool A:
Orlando
Pirates, Ajax Cape Town, Supersport United, Izichwe
Pool B:
Bidvest
Wits, School of Excellence, Diambars, Mamelodi Sundowns
