Super Cup challenge
Southland football players Stewart Catto and Jacob Pritchard will be in excellent company when they take the field for the Otago Academy at the 2016 Super Cup in Northern Ireland in July.
Global superstars such as David Beckham, Wayne Rooney, Ryan Giggs and young sensation Marcus Rashford have used the tournament to springboard their professional football careers in the past.
Rashford made his mark by claiming four goals when Manchester United won the tournament in 2014.
Pritchard,15, is the youngest in the team and is looking to impress in his home country.
‘‘It will be a privilege to be playing against the best youth players in the world,’’ Pritchard said.
‘‘Not only will it be a challenge, the thought of playing against the likes of skilled players like Rashford will push me to deliver my best on the field.’’
The attacking midfielder moved to Invercargill nine years ago from the UK and the James Hargest College student is now part of the Old Boys team competing in the Otago Youth League and is currently exploring opportunities to get trials while over in the UK in Manchester.
Although the tournament starts in July, the team starts their overseas campaign in Manchester, with friendly games against Under-17 teams from the English Premier League.
In the past these teams have included the likes of Manchester City.
The opposition for the friendly games have yet to be confirmed for this year.
The tournament is an opportunity to play against some of the best youth players from around the world with teams from Europe and South America taking part.
While Pritchard will be trying to score goals, Central Southland’s Catto will be trying to stop them.
The 16-year-old Winton teenager has been fine tuning his craft for Green Island in the Otago premier grade this season and will be eager to get game time as one of only two goal keepers in the squad.
Meanwhile, the regular season Southland football competition takes a break for the holiday weekend, although two Southland teams will be playing on Monday afternoon, with the spotlight switching to the fairy tale of the Chatham Cup.
Both Southland teams will travel for their preliminary round fixtures with Gore Wanderers playing Melchester Rovers at Bayfield Park in Dunedin.
Waihopai will be hoping for a successful result from their long road trip to Timaru when they clash with West End, as the teams look to keep the dream alive by qualifying for the first round.