Liverpool’s Raheem Sterling at the Milk Cup draw Picture by Matt Mackey/presseye.com
Fermanagh Milk Cup teams will take on teams from all over the world in this year’s international football competition in July.
At the draw made yesterday in the Odyssey, Liverpool duo, manager Brendan Rogers and teenage sensation Raheem Sterling performed the draw live on BBC Website.
Fermanagh Junior Manager Andrew McCutcheon was delighted with his team’s draw, especially against Japan.
“It is just brilliant to be drawn against a national side. Some of the players on the Fermanagh squad may never have the opportunity to play at national level, but this is a great chance to pit their wits against international players. It’s just fantastic.
McCutcheon pointed out that Plymouth Argyle would also include top class players, who may go on to play for Premier clubs.
“It’s a great opportunity to play against an English League side. It has been something that I have always been interested in.”
The third team in Fermanagh’s group is South Coast Strikers from the United States and McCutcheon has seen them before at the Milk Cup.
“Technically they are fantastic and they are all great athletes. I know the boys will be buzzing for all three games during the tournament.”
Premier manager Gareth McGuckin was a bit more disappointed with the draw, having to meet another county side yet again.
“We were looking for some of the big names, but when you look at the draw now, these are winnable games for us.
“The Mexicans will be wonderful ball players as always, but we will have to cope with that and concentrate on our game while I know the New Zealand sides are always more physical.
“I’d like to think at least two of these are winnable games for us. The boys are going well in training and once the draw has been made we can concenetrate on the task in hand now.”
A total of 44 teams representing 14 countries will contest this year’s tournament which features Elite, Premier and Junior competitions across venues in four counties.
Milk Cup PRO Jim Sandford says:
“There is phenomenal interest in our draw and the fact that BBC Sport NI will stream it live online will enable thousands of interested parties worldwide to see who will be matched against each other at the tournament.”