'Caps Residency head to Dallas Cup

March 15, 2008

Vancouver Whitecaps FC Residency are in Texas to take part in the U-19 Super Group of Dallas Cup XXIX.

Thomas Niendorf's side have been drawn in Bracket C of the competition, with Whitecaps Residency facing the U-19 side from Portuguese giants Benfica in their first game on Sunday. That is followed by their second contest against Mexico's Chivas Guadalajara on Monday before the team completes their group campaign with a match against German club Eintracht Frankfurt on Wednesday. All three games will be played at Richland College in Dallas.

First held in 1980, the Dallas Cup is one of world soccer’s most prestigious youth tournaments and features approximately 180 teams from around the United States and the world in age groups U-13 to U-19, with the U-19 Super Group being the tournament’s marquee competition.

The Super Group tournament has seen U-19 sides from some of the world’s most famous clubs participate in its 27-year history. They include European clubs AC Milan, Ajax, Aston Villa, Chelsea, and Eintracht Frankfurt; Mexican outfits Club Universidad Nacional AC (UNAM Pumas) and Club América; as well as Costa Rican giants Deportivo Saprissa. Canada’s history in the Super Group includes tournament victories by NSL Select in 1983 and 1984, as well as representation by Canada’s U-18 national team in 2005.

The Super Group has also featured some of world soccer’s top stars in the formative stages of their career. The likes of David Beckham, Raul, Landon Donovan, Freddy Adu, DaMarcus Beasley, Michael Owen, Wayne Rooney, Peter Crouch, Harry Kewell, Rafael Marquez, and Michael Carrick are all past participants. Even retired NBA basketball star Hakeem Olajuwon featured as a player in the Dallas Cup.

Joining Whitecaps Residency as first-time Super Group participants are the 2007 United States Youth Soccer national boys champion Andromeda SC of Dallas, English clubs Leicester City FC and Liverpool FC, Ryutsu Keizai University FC of Japan, and FK Slavija Sarajevo of Bosnia & Herzegovina. Clubs that are returning for the Super Group stage include two-time champions Sao Paulo FC of Brazil, SL Benfica, Eintracht Frankfurt, as well as Mexican clubs CF Monterrey, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León (UANL) Tigres, and Chivas Guadalajara.

To view the latest news and features from the Whitecaps Residency's trip to Dallas Cup XXIX – including tournament blogs from defender Adam Straith - please CLICK HERE for our special Dallas Cup page.


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