Client News
West Ham focus on first Soccer Sevens title
Hong Kong, 13 May 2010 - West Ham United coach Alex Dyer has twin ambitions for his team in this weekend’s HKFC IP Global International Soccer Sevens.
The immediate priority is to win the tournament for the first time after several years of trying.
In the longer term, he hopes some of his young squad will follow the Soccer Sevens trend and progress to the West Ham first team next season.
England international Glen Johnson, Anton Ferdinand and, most recently, Zavon Hines all appeared for the Hammers in the Premier League soon after playing in Hong Kong.
“Our aim is to get as far as we can in the competition and try to take the Cup back home,” confirmed Dyer, the club’s reserve team manager.
“It’s a brilliant tournament and we’re so happy to be invited again. I hope that we can give a good account of ourselves.
“It seems that each year we come here one or two of the boys manage to get in the first team the following season so we’d like to see that happen again.
“Zavon Hines is the latest to do that and he’s done very well, he was just voted Young Player of the Year for West Ham. He’s got a bright future, a good attitude and he works hard.”
The HKFC IP Global International Soccer Sevens kicks off at Hong Kong Football Club at 6:00pm on Friday with matches continuing through to the finals on Sunday evening. A total of 32 teams are taking part – 16 in the Main competition and 16 in the Masters.
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.
Joining West Ham in the Main competition are debutants Ajax, defending champions Glasgow Celtic and the team they defeated in last year’s final, city rivals Rangers.
Four-time Soccer Sevens champions Aston Villa, Birmingham City and Sunderland – also making their first appearance – complete a strong English Premier League presence.
Villa are keen to win the trophy for a record fifth time and academy manager Bryan Jones is relishing the challenge.
“We always look forward to coming to Hong Kong,” he said. “First, because we’re really well looked after and the organisation is so superb, but also because it’s a good test for the players.
“It’s a different form of football that they’re not used to and playing in heat is a new experience for them. Also, the standard has really gone up in the last five or six years.”
Villa have brought back two members of their 2008 Soccer Sevens-winning team, midfielder Marc Albrighton and striker Nathan Delfouneso – the latter fresh from netting his first Premier League goal last month.
“Nathan and Marc are still young and are still members of our academy, they’ve just had a bit of experience with the first team a little earlier than most players,” explained Jones.
“They were both anxious to come back because they may be playing for England U20s next month so it’s important they maintain their fitness levels.”
In the Masters competition, all eyes will be on the Andy Cole Jura All Stars and the IP Global All Stars – two teams packed with ex-England internationals and former Premier League regulars.
A weekend pass (Saturday and Sunday) for the Soccer Sevens costs HK$200 per adult while a day pass (Saturday or Sunday) is HK$120 per adult. Admission on Friday evening is free for all spectators while children under the age of 16 are admitted free throughout the tournament.
Fans can also still book tables for the FA Cup Dinner at 8:00pm on Saturday at Football Club.
The evening will feature the Chelsea v Portsmouth FA Cup final on the big screen and the Andy Cole Jura All Stars will be present to talk about the game and other football issues. Tables for 12 persons cost $10,000 which includes sit-down dinner and free-flowing beer.
Details of how to purchase tickets for the Soccer Sevens and FA Cup Dinner, plus a wealth of other information about the tournament, can be found at the official website, www.hksoccersevens.com.
About IP Global
IP Global (formerly Intellectual Property) sources property investments in emerging and recovering markets. The company has a unique approach; assisting clients in constructing a property investment portfolio tailored to their specific investment strategy and budget. IP Global focuses not only on where to invest but also removes the difficulties that independent investors face when buying property.
IP Global educates investors with the market knowledge required for potential and future investments. The extensive due diligence service provided gives clients the assurance to invest in remote markets which otherwise would not be accessible.
IP Global was launched in Hong Kong in September 2005 and now has offices in Singapore and Dubai to support a rapidly expanding client base and global ambitions. Since inception, IP Global has transacted a total of over US$700 million in property on behalf of its clients.
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Released on behalf of the HKFC IP Global International Soccer Sevens by Two Up Front – Asia’s sports PR specialists.