The Gauteng Future Champions international under 17 title is on the line and Supersport United, Kaizer Chiefs, and the Tshwane and Johannesburg regional teams will be looking for goals against eight international teams, when the second edition of the youth football showdown takes place at the Dobsonville Stadium, Soweto from January 25-30.

The tournament, made possible by partners in the form of the Gauteng Department of Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation and the South African Football Association, in association with internationally recognised football agency Global Sports International, is set to get the SA football scene off to a whirlwind start just months away from Mzansi’s hosting of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™.

Last year, Argentinean powerhouse club Boca Juniors lifted the coveted title in outplaying Tunisia’s Esperance 2-0 in an action-packed final, and the well-organised, high quality tournament has entrenched itself as a key date on the international youth football calendar.

In November last year, Supersport United’s academy side were pushed to the limit before pipping Kaizer Chiefs youngsters 3-2 in the Gauteng under 17 Cup final, while Tshwane outplayed Johannesburg Select 2-0 in the regional final. All four of the above-mentioned local teams will participate in the international tournament.

Add in the foreign invasion expected to come from last year’s runners-up in Esperance, plus K Stars (Zambia), Botafogo (Brazil), Shandong Luneng (China), DC United (USA), Mumbai Challengers (India), Paris St Germain (France) and the Dublin District Football League (Ireland), and some of the world’s leading under 17 football talent will be out to score big in this key year for football.

Gauteng Tourism Authority’s Destination Marketing Senior Manager, Nonnie Kubeka said: “The Gauteng Future Champions international under 17 tournament has further positioned Gauteng on the world sports map.”

“The 8 visiting international teams will get an opportunity to share in the rich culture of our province, country and continent, and besides participating in the football event, they will also visit Soccer City – the host venue for the opening and final matches of the 2010 FIFA World Cup – as well as a trip to Nelson Mandela Square and Gauteng’s famous Lion Park. This forms a part of the ultimate Gauteng Province tourism experience, which will allow our visitors to return home with fond memories about our wonderful province.”

Tournament Director Phil Mogodi added: “The teams will be divided into three pools and will play matches on a round-robin basis within their groups. The top team in each of the pools, plus the best-placed second team out of the three pools, will qualify to contest the semi-finals on Friday, January 29. The grand finale will be played on Saturday, January 30.”

SA Tourism Events Platform Manager Sugen Pillay described the hosting of the Gauteng Future Champions under 17 tournament as a major coup for sport and tourism in SA ahead of the country’s hosting of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™.

“I trust that the visiting teams will enjoy their Gauteng Experience in Mzansi and will return home and spread the word about what SA has to offer by way of tourism, infrastructure, passion for football and the friendliness of our people as the world’s focus turns towards our country for the 2010 FIFA World Cup action,” said Pillay.

Fixtures for the Gauteng Future Champions after the launch on Monday:

TEAMS


Botafogo (BRA)


Mumbai Challengers (IND)


Paris Saint-Germain (FRA)


DC United (USA)


Kaizer Chiefs (RSA)


SAFA Tshwane (RSA)


Team Dublin (IRL)


Shandong Luneng (CHN)

GROUP A


Kaizer Chiefs
SAFA Tshwane
Team Dublin
Shandong Luneng

GROUP B


SuperSport United
K-Stars
Paris Saint-Germain
DC United

GROUP C


SAFA Johannesburg
Esperance
Botafogo
Mumbai Challengers

FIXTURES

Dobsonville Stadium

January 25 MONDAY

10am Kaizer Chiefs vs SAFA Tshwane


11:15am Team Dublin vs Shandong Luneng


12:30pm SuperSport United vs K-Stars


1:45pm Paris Saint-Germain vs DC United


3pm SAFA Johannesburg vs Esperance


4:15pm Botafogo vs Mumbai Challengers

January 26 TUESDAY

10am Shandong Luneng vs SAFA Tshwane


11:15am Team Dublin vs Kaizer Chiefs


12:30pm DC United vs K-Stars


1:45pm Paris Saint-Germain vs SuperSport United


3pm Mumbai Challengers vs Esperance


4:15pm Botafogo vs SAFA Johannesburg

January 27 WEDNESDAY

10am SAFA Tshwane vs Team Dublin


11:15am Kaizer Chiefs vs Shandong Luneng


12:30pm K-Stars vs Paris Saint-Germain


1:45pm SuperSport United vs DC United


3pm Esperance vs Botafogo


4:15pm SAFA Johannesburg vs Mumbai Challengers

January 28 THURSDAY: CULTURAL DAY

January 28 FRIDAY

10am Match 19 - Play-off


11:15am Match 20 - Play-off


12:30pm Match 21 - Play-off


1:45pm Match 22 - Play-off


3pm Match 23 - Semifinal


4:15pm Match 24 - Semifinal

January 30 SATURDAY

tbd Eleventh Place Play-off --- Loser 19 vs Loser 20


tbd Ninth Place Play-off --- Winner 19 vs Winner 20


tbd Seventh Place Play-off --- Loser 21 vs Loser 22


tbd Fifth Place Play-off --- Winner 21 vs Loser 22


1:55pm Third Place Play-off --- Loser 23 vs Loser 24


3:15pm Championship --- Winner 23 vs Winner 24