The 20th edition of the Eurosport Christmas Football Tournament and the 5th Atalanta Christmas Football Stage were launched during a press conference at the Eurosport outlet, Birkirkara.
The tournament will be held between the 26th and the 30th December at the Infetti complex and is being organized with the approval of the Grassroots Committee within the Malta Football Association and the Youth FA, in collaboration with Eurosport who are the tournament’s main sponsors. Sixteen teams – eight in the Under-14 category and eight in the Under-12 category will be taking part for a total of three hundred players.
Teams were drawn as follows:
Under-14 – Group A: St. Patrick, Pietà H., Naxxar L., Hamrun S.
Under-14 – Group B: Sliema W., Birkirkara, San Gwann, Floriana.
The top two teams in each group qualify for the semi-finals.
In the Under-12 category, no team would be declared winner but all participating teams will be given a memento for their participation.
All players will be presented with a commemorative medal for their participation in the tournament.
The Birkirkara FC Youth Nursery committee emphasise on the importance of fair play, both on the field of play and outside and appeals to coaches, delegates and parents not to put undue pressure on the children. Nursery chairman Henry Bray announced that €2 for each player which will be taking part will be presented to Puttinu Cares.
Between the 27th and 29th December, Atalanta BC Settore Giovanile, in collabortation with the Birkirkara Nursery, will be organizing the 5th Atalanta Christmas Football Stage. Around sixty players will be attending three one-and-a-half hour sessions under the guidance of three coaches from the Atalanta youth sector, namely Andrea Bassi, Matteo Moranda and Andrea Paravisi.
Henry Bray announced that the new entrance to the Nursery complex will be inaugurated on Monday 27 at 20:00 by Minister for Finance Tonio Fenech. Over the past year, the Nursery has also invested in a gym and gave a new look to the dressing rooms inside the Infetti complex.
Eurosport Ltd Managing Director Christina Peresso said the company was always at the forefront when supporting football nurseries and said that such events are of great importance and hence the company is proud to be this tournament’s main sponsor. She wished the Birkirkara FC Youth Nursery success in the organization of the tournament.
Youth F.A. general secretary Joe Micallef said the fact that this tournament has now reached the 20th edition shows the professionalism with which it is being organized. He said the Youth FA constantly supports the organization of such tournaments and festivals.
The Nursery chairman finally thanked main sponsor Eurosport, the Minister for Finance Tonio Fenech, the Grassroots Committee within the MFA, the Youth FA and the media for their support.