The Craig Bellamy Foundation for the first time will be participating in the MILK CUP Competition to be held in Northern Ireland in July. It is a competition that is organized annually for Youth Academies around the world. This year’s edition is one that is to attract 32 youth teams from major clubs in Europe and the Americas . According to the coach Tom Legg who spoke to this press the team is currently involved in rigorous training in preparation for the competition which is tagged the “MILK CUP” and that they will be leaving the shores of Freetown on the 22nd of June 2014 with a total of 18 players from the first generation in the Academy adding that the tournament is for U-17 players as one of the first generation players has already turned 18 in June so is illegible for the tournament.
The team is expected to play up to five matches in five days from the 28, 29 and 30 July and they will be facing Patrick Thistle from Scotland Vendee of France and County Down of Northern Ireland in their group. John Legg further went on to state that for most of the boys it is the very first time they are travelling outside of the country and it might be a challenge for them in facing European and American opponents.
He further mentioned that they are hoping to be joined by three of their boys who are currently in the United States of America on scholarship. he The Academy’s participation in the Milk Cup tournament this year is not just to go for the championship but also to expose the boys to the outside world and that they are very much concerned about attracting scouts from different clubs in Europe.
Issa Bangura a player of the first generation who is also part of the team said that they are well prepared for their maiden international competition and that he believes with the type of training that they have gone through and also the number of friendly matches that they have played Sierra Leoneans are assured that going to Northern Ireland is not for a picnic but to make their presence felt in the competition. ‘’We want win the competitions that is our aim’’ says Bangura.
(C) Politico 05/06/14
