Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Stats how we’ll make this work..
ORGANISERS of the Statsports Supercupni are determined that next year’s event will survive the potential ramifications of Covid-19. This season’s tournament fell victim to the pandemic and chairman Victor Leonard has contingency plans should travel restrictions remain in place for foreign teams unable to travel. The organising committee has also added an under-14 section to next year’s event so that the boys who were due to play in this year’s tournament will still have the opportunity to participate. Leonard said: “We feel it is prudent to plan for two different options in terms of competing teams. “The first is very much the one we have been delivering since the 1980s with teams from all across the world in competition in Northern Ireland. “But with the threat of Covid-19 still with us, we are developing a template for UK and Irish based teams only should travel restrictions still be in place in a year’s time. “It very much depends on how our world looks next year in light of the virus. “We will have an additional section next year because so many players and coaches were really disappointed that this summer’s tournament had to be pulled and particularly in the minor section for players born on or after January 1, 2007. “The difficulty was even greater for the Northern Ireland Club teams as the Minor section was the only one where some players had an opportunity to add their participation in the Statsports Supercupni to their playing CV. “The Northern Ireland representation in the Junior and Premier Sections is limited to County select teams where competition for places is particularly strong.”