Abedi's Club Invited To FIFA Youth Cup

Ghanaian soccer legend, Abedi Ayew Pele’s effort of improving youth football development in Africa is been given due recognition by World soccer governing body, FIFA as his club, FC Nania is the only African team invited for the 65th Blue Stars/FIFA Youth Cup.

The traditional Blue Stars/FIFA Youth Cup will take place in Zurich on 28-29 May 2003.

This year’s event will include defending champions CA Boca Juniors (Argentina) as well as the team that finished third last year, Lazio of Italy.

Twelve teams – from Europe, South America and Africa – will compete for this year’s title. The performance of FC Nania handled by Ghanaian FA member, Abedi Pele, twice voted African Player of the Year, is expected to be the subject during the tournament in Zurich.

The Organizing Committee has decided to invite a team from neighbouring Austria, as EURO 2008 will be held in Austria and Switzerland. The youth side of Austrian club, SK Sturm Graz, will fill that spot.

Other teams to be represented are Bulgaria’s Levski Sofia making their debut, under-20 sides from English club, Tottenham Hotspur, Portugal’s Benfica, RC Celta de Vigo from Spain and three Swiss teams namely FC Basel (winners 1997), Grasshopper Club Zurich (winners 1998) and FC Zurich (runners-up 1999).

FC Blue Stars is the host team. The event which begun way back on 3 December 1938 saw FIFA taking the event under its wing in 1991, and had it renamed the “Blue Stars/FIFA Youth Cup” four years later.

Countless youngsters amongst whom we seen the world’s great stars have played at the Youth Cup in Zurich before embarking on their paths to world fame. Legend’s like Bobby Charlton, Bobby Moore and George Best all played in Zurich.

Presently, Manchester United’s David Beckham, Neville brothers (Gary and Phil), Nicky Butt and Paul Scholes, Markus Babbel, Didi Hamann and Nigeria’s Austin “Jay-Jay” Okocha are just a few of the names to have appeared at the event before attaining fame recently.