Prague, 29th July, 2014: The GENERALI CEE Cup, the annual U19 football tournament for teams throughout Central and Eastern Europe is now reaching its climax, and the tournament’s organisers are already looking forward to tomorrow’s Gyori ETO FC vs. AS Trencin Grand Final which takes place at the Bohemian’s Dolicek Stadium on Wednesday, 30th July 2014 from 17.30 onwards.
From the quality of play seen in the first rounds, it is clear that the overall level of football has, yet again, increased in its level, but as of yet there is no outstanding ‘favourite’ – according to the spectators to date, all of the teams have been exceptional. In fact, on the first day of the tournament, the organisers were delighted to welcome Pavel Vrba, the Czech National Team Coach, who had turned up by surprise and who commented:
“I am glad that this tournament is played in the Czech Republic. Today, I mainly came to see the Czech players, but there are some very interesting players in the Hungarian team, Györi ETO FC and I am really looking forward to seeing more from these talented players.”
As usual, there is a parallel project running throughout the GENERALI CEE Cup, which is definitely adding to the players’ wish to play their very best. This year the focus is on coaches, with the leading football scouting portal, Wyscout, sending a team over to take part in a seminar for coaches, scouts and agents, and, also, to record the matches. Wyscout currently works with over 450 football clubs around the world, including Slavia Praha and Sparta Praha.
The semi-finals were held yesterday in Strahov Stadium, with Gyori ETO FC – the 2013 reigning champions – facing off against FSV Frankfurt, and FK Sarajevo playing AS Trencin. FK Sarajevo made a name for themselves in the early days of the tournament, when they defeated CS Juventus Bucharesti 8:0. The winners of each semi-final, Gyori ETO FC and AS Trencin will face off against each other in tomorrow’s Grand Final, which is being aired live on Eurosport TV Channel.
Speaking about this year’s tournament, Roberto De Blasio, the Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the GENERALI CEE Cup, commented:
“Every year we work hard to improve the level of the clubs taking part in the GENERALI CEE Cup, and this year it looks like our efforts have really paid off. These players have such a passion for the sport, and I can’t wait to see that passion at the Grand Final on Wednesday. Last year’s final was a true spectacle, and as good as any premiere league match!”
As has been the case for the past three years, the tournament will give the proceeds from the Grand Final ticket sales to UNICEF, in order to support the UNICEF Schools for Africa project.
For more information about the GENERALI CEE Cup 2014 and previous years, and for the results of the tournament to date, please visit http://www.ceecup.org.
