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On the last day..

Last day of Tournament

Marcel Wrote:

Today we played the Sunward park which is a team from South Africa. They were an ok team, they we very good passers and had good technical skill. We scored first of a cross and a finish from our right winger. Then 10 minutes later we failed to clear the ball out of the box and they got an easy shot on net and scored. We were still in the game and had a chance to win but 5 minutes into the second half they go though our left side. The goalie came out to dive on it but the bounced off his chest and right to he other team and they scored. We lost the game 2-1 and we were disappointed because we could have won 4 out of our 5 games and ended up winning zero. Although we didn't win we still had a great experience off the field making friends with players from the other teams and learning things from different cultures.

Day 4 - Cultural Day

Marcel Wrote:

On Thursday we had a break from our games and all the teams got to go to Mandela house, to the stadium were the first World Cup game and the World Cup finals were held. We also got to go to a lion park and see lions, zebras, giraffes, and ostriches. We never got to go into Mandela house but we got see the outside and the tour guide told us things about Mandela and the house. Desmond Tutu's house was on the same street as Mandela's house. The stadium we went to was called the FNB stadium and it was where he first and last game of the 2010 World Cup was held. At the lion park we got to pet and hold baby lions and we got to see adult lions, giraffes, and cheetahs. We rode on the bus with the Jomo Cosmos from South Africa all day we got to become good friends with them also. They taught us some of their songs that they sing before their games.

Region I ODP 1997 Boys Trip Administrator:

 The tournament committee had a full day of events planned for all the teams in the tournament.   Today the boys were joined by an African team, Jomo Cosmos, as they boarded to bus for a day of site seeing.  The first stop of the day was Vilakazi Street, the homes of winners of the Nobel Prize for Peace, Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu.  The next stop was FNB Stadium where the opening and final games of the 2010 FIFA World Cup were played.  

Below is a description from one of the USA players. 

“The guide later brought the team to the FNB Stadium where they were given the full tour. The stadium was used for many during the world cup and it was a great experience for the team. We were joined by Sunderland, Jomo Cosmos and Royal Wahingdong. We saw the locker rooms where the famous teams such as Spain prepared before the game. We walked through the tunnel onto the field just like a professional team.  As we walked in the stadium we got a sense of excitement We saw the field as if we were about to play. It was a part of the day that the team enjoyed extremely.”

The next stop was the Lion Park.  Again a description from another USA player 

“Yesterday we went to the Lion Park to have a good time and relax on our day off.  Half of us started with the lion cubs and the other half of us went on a safari ride.  Both of them were very enjoyable.  I preferred the lion cubs because you got to interact with them in their culture.  I had a great time and I am pretty sure my teammates did too.   Overall, my teammates and I enjoyed the day and it’s truly a life changing experience.  Plus, being able to do it with my best friends was cool.  We will never forget this and always will be thankful for the opportunity.”

Finally, the day ended with a gala dinner at the Lake Hotel an Convention Center.  It was a buffet dinner with all the teams.  The entertainment for the night was the teams.  Each team had to perform. Region I had a great performance, they danced.  After all the food, desserts and dancing the USA team was challenged to a dance off with Sunderland,  Coach Todd was there coaching the boys and obviously the US won.  The boys were able to relate with other teams and had a great time.  

Third day of Tournament

This post come from The Region 1 Facebook page 

In the final group match in the Future-Champions tournament in Soweto, South Africa the Boys regional team played English Premier League academy side Sunderland to a 1-1 draw. Region I scored with a tremendous volley by Connor DeFilippis off a Shane Mecham cross. That held up until the first minute of the second half when Sunderland equalized. Both teams had chances but region 1 missed a couple of good shots while Alec Lam played stellar again in goal turning away of few chances.
The result meant a tie for second in the group with Sunderland taking that spot by way of goal difference. That leaves us in 3rd place and will play in the "semis" with the other 3rd place teams effectively leaving 9th out of 16 as our best finish possible.

Tomorrow is a day off with a cultural,day touring SOWETO ( long time home of Mandela and Tutu ), going to a Lion Park and to the Cradle of Humankind. We play Friday at 12:15 local time.

Second Day of Tournament

Marcel did not post today.   This information was found on the region 1 Facebook page.

USA...USA...USA..Marcel's team suffered a 3-0 defeat in the mid day heat to South Africa's Sundowners. After a 0-0 half they gave up 3 goals spread throughout the final period. The speed and quickness of the South Africans proved difficult. Tomorrow they hope to rebound so that they can finish anywhere from 2nd to 4th in their group. They play the Academy team from Sunderland, England. The game will be nationally televised in South Africa.

First Day of Tournament

Today was the opening ceremony for the tournament. All of the African school children came out to watch. There were hundreds maybe thousands of people to watch the opening ceremony and the first game. We got to take lots of pictures with the children. Our game was at 6 and the game after the opening tournament was at 3. We got to see Athletico Mineiro from Brazil play Super Sport from South Africa. Mineiro won 5 - 2 and scored 4 goals in the first 11 minutes. We played Royal Wahingdoh which is an Indian team. They were very small but also very technical. We kept a lot of possession in the first half and scored early. In the second half we still dominated possession but because of fatigue we gave up a lot of counter attacks. They got a corner and crossed it near the post and scored off of a header. The game ended 1-1. I was a little disappointed because it was a good opportunity to win our first game and gain some momentum. I played the whole game at right back. I felt like I played well and got opportunities to get out wide and get crosses in. Overall it was a great day and an amazing experience to see all the fans

and all the different teams in the tournament.