WORLD under-21 champions Japan will kick off the Jersey Football Tournament 2004 against 2003 winners Boca Juniors.
The start of the high-profile Jersey week of football, immediately following on from a first-ever tournament in Guernsey, brings together the mighty visitors at Springfield on Tuesday 3 August.
Matches with the young stars of regulart visitors Manchester United and Celtic will follow on in a round-robin format up to the weekend.
The organisation of both tournaments in the Channel Islands has been announced, with Japan and Boca also opening the Guernsey tournament.
Tickets for the Jersey tournament are on sale now (details on page 45).
Flights and hotels have all been booked in both islands and Japan will arrive three days before the Guernsey tournament - to acclimatise! Brazilian Soccer Federation coaches and national coaches from other countries will also be visiting the tournaments - signalling that future tournaments could become international team events.
Iain Mackenzie, of organisers Sporting Eventualities, said: ‘An international event is something we are aiming for but this year we have Japan for the first time and we’re excited by that fact.
‘They are World champions in their age group and they will be bringing a party of 30 for the tournaments in the islands.
For anyone with a passion for football it promises to be a fantastic two weeks.
‘Japan are bringing a strong squad over, they will also have two over-age players as permitted by the rules - that being over 21 but under 23 on 1 September.’ Sporting Eventualities are also bringing in an education programme for this year’s Jersey tournament.
Mackenzie said: ‘It’s called Video Conferencing and pupils at Le Rocquier School will be looking to interview the Japanese players and by way of educational link-ups the interviews will be sent back to Japan.’ Benfica won the inaugural under-19 tournament in 1999, the first ever FIFA sanctioned professional football tournament to have been staged in the Channel Islands.
The tournament expanded, allowing six teams to participate in 2000 and new rules allowed teams to include five players in their squads over 19 but under 21 years of age.
Blackburn Rovers won that year.
The tournament was classed at full U21 level by FIFA in 2001 and Barcelona, with their complete B-team, were the victors.
Sunderland Reserves, now with teams allowed to include two players over 21 but under 23, won the 2002 tournament while Argentina’s Boca Juniors won last year.
Tickets for the Jersey tournament can be booked from today with Vowden Sports (telephone 879685), Fort Regent (5002270) and Springfield (500015).
They will be available for collection from Friday.
Grandstand tickets are £8 while spectators who buy for five matches will get the sixth free.
Standing is £5 for adults and £3 for under-14s.
Corporate tickets, either individually or in tables of ten, are £35 ahead.
The corporate package includes a four-course meal, premier seating in the stand and the use of private bar facilities during the interval and after the match.
Corporate bookings to Iain Mackenzie (07797 718 246) or Paul Sowney (07797 722 996).
Article posted on 29th June, 2004 - 12.00am
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