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McGrain looking for final improvement
Hong Kong, 28 May 2009, 28 May 2009 - Celtic legend Danny McGrain is hoping his team can go one better than last year’s runners-up spot when they compete in this weekend’s HKFC IP Global International Soccer Sevens.
The Scottish giants lost 2-0 to English rivals Aston Villa in the 2008 final of the popular Hong Kong tournament.
They will be aiming to improve on that when the 2009 edition is staged at Hong Kong Football Club from Friday to Sunday.
“Villa had that little bit extra last year and the better team won,” admitted McGrain, assistant to Celtic squad manager Willie McStay.
“We’re in a tough group this year so our priority is to make sure we qualify for the Cup on Sunday and then we’ll take it from there.”
Celtic have unearthed plenty of stars in the years they have been competing in the Soccer Sevens, including current first team captain Steve McManus, John Kennedy, Shaun Maloney and Liam Miller.
This year they have high hopes for flying winger Niall McGinn. The 21-year-old, already a Northern Ireland international, was signed from Derry City last December.
“He’s got pace to burn and can play on the right or left,” said McGrain, one of the all-time great fullbacks who played 663 games for Celtic and earned 62 Scotland caps.
“In the past we’ve brought quite a few young players over here who have progressed to the first team. This is our seventh year of competing here and it’s always been enjoyable. Everyone back home speaks very highly of the tournament.”
Arch rivals Rangers are also competing in the 32-team Soccer Sevens while other leading contenders include Villa, West Ham United and Birmingham City.
Villa, who will be going for their third Cup victory in a row and fifth overall, have included two key members of last year’s winning team, Player of the Tournament Barry Bannan and Marc Albrighton, who scored against Celtic in the final.
Since it was first held in 1999, the tournament – sanctioned by the Hong Kong Football Association – has developed into the world’s premier seven-a-side soccer event.
The Main competition has become famous for unearthing the “stars of tomorrow” while the Masters section features former elite players from Europe’s top leagues.
All eyes in this year’s Masters competition will be on the IP Global All Stars, who will feature former England internationals Des Walker, Rob Lee and Chris Powell, ex-Scotland striker Gordon Durie and former Northern Ireland midfielder Steve Lomas.
Further star appeal comes in the shape of current Premier League referee Mike Riley, who is officiating at the tournament.
Riley will take charge of four matches in the first two days – Football For Life v HKFC Veterans on Friday (7:48pm kickoff), followed by West Ham v Australian U18s (2:18pm), Eastleigh FC v Yau Yee League Select (5:18pm) and Villa v Birmingham (7:42pm), all on Saturday. He will also referee matches on Sunday.
Entry on Friday is free for all spectators, while all children under the age of 16 are allowed in free throughout the tournament. Adult tickets cost HK$200 for two days (Saturday and Sunday sold together) or HK$120 for one day.
Tickets can be bought via www.hksoccersevens.com or through Laxton Marketing Consultants (Tel: 2866 3110), or they can be purchased at the public entrance during the tournament.
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Released on behalf of the HKFC IP Global International Soccer Sevens by Two Up Front - Asia’s sports PR specialists.