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FORMER Warriors and Highlanders skipper, Thulani Ncube’s, Biya4 Academy will make its debut in an international tournament in Johannesburg, South Africa, next month.
The Bulawayo-based Biya4 Academy will compete against elite teams from around the globe in the 2024 Ibercup that will run from December 12-16.
The ex-Highlanders, Young Warriors and Warriors captain is the brains behind the project, which is based in Gwabalanda and has several Bulawayo lads who played junior development football here and proceeded to the US assisting him under the banner of Biya and Friends in the project.
Among the notables is Joseph “Skippy” Ngwenya. Biya4 Academy will play against various teams that include AmaZulu, Mamelodi Sundowns, Kaizer Chiefs, SuperSport United France’s Paris St Germain, Juventus of Italy and Benfica of Portugal, where the tournament originated 15 years ago.
“Our goal is to bring the world to SA and the level of competition will be high,” said Philippe Rodrigues, the chief executive officer of the Iber Cup was recently quoted as saying by South Africa’s Sowetan Live.
“It will be an unforgettable experience for players because they will get to play against their peers from all over the world, something that doesn’t happen often.”
The Gauteng provincial sports department is the host of the tournament, which has age categories ranging from eight years to 18.
Ibercup is the biggest, most important youth football organisation in the world and has been in existence since 2010. Ibercup stages annual football projects including tournaments (Fifa accredited) in Brazil, Portugal, Spain, Poland, England, Australia, China, USA and now in South Africa.
Ibercup has partnered with some of the world’s biggest international football clubs, local clubs and government sports departments in the countries it operates to deliver best practices in youth football.
Over 170 countries, more than 150 000 players and 10 000 teams from around the globe reportedly participate in Ibercup events per annum.
Ibercup SA was established in 2019 and the team has over 30 years of experience in local and international football and has been responsible for developing and managing South African teams and players to participate in football-based projects overseas that include among others, the Gothia Cup, Sweden, Donosti Cup, Spain,and Umbro Cup England.
Francis Ntutha, the Zifa Bulawayo Province chairman confirmed that they had cleared the team to proceed to Johannesburg.
“We have facilitated that they get the necessary clearances for the tour. We pray that they will be good ambassadors of our league and national game. We wish them all the best for the tour,” said Ntutha at the weekend.
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