McDonald’s Kanga Cup Kicks off Next Week
The 2009 McDonald’s Kanga Cup continues to defy the odds by overcoming both the Global Financial Crisis and the H1N1 Influenza (Swine Flu) epidemic to see over 225 teams compete in this year’s tournament.The largest junior football tournament in the southern hemisphere will kick off at the end of the week with 225 teams descending on the national capital for the week long competition beginning on Sunday, 12th July.
“There’s no denying that we weren’t a little nervous coming into this year’s tournament with the odds stacked against us as both the financial crisis and swine flu pandemic both gripped the country,” McDonald’s Kanga Cup Event Manager, Sarah Body said.
“Despite all the excuses, registrations continued to flood in this year with 225 teams nominating for the tournament which is very pleasing.”
New South Wales will again be well represented with 79 teams followed by Queensland with 8 teams, Victoria (4), South Australia (2) and Tasmania (1).
The motto of “Uniting the youth of the world through football”, means that the Kanga Cup isn’t a champions of champions style tournament - but instead a chance to meet new friends, experience new cultures and have fun, all set around playing football.
“Results aren’t the be all and end all at the tournament,” Body said.
“We have events outside the football as an opportunity for the participants to make new friendships with people they might not normally have the chance to meet, creating a cultural Festival of Football.”
Local owner and Licensee of four McDonald’s Restaurants in ACT, Joe Sammut, is proud to celebrate McDonald’s fourth year of sponsorship of the Kanga Cup and is encouraging teams from across the country to do well and have fun in the McDonald’s Kanga Cup.
“McDonald’s is pleased to be able to support the Kanga Cup once again. The McDonald’s Kanga Cup is about sportsmanship and camaraderie, fair-play, diversity and commitment. This a fantastic opportunity for football clubs to motivate their junior players to train hard in the pursuit of a common goal.”
We are committed to encouraging junior development in local sporting and community groups and supporting healthy and active lifestyles,” Joe added.
The 2009 McDonald’s Kanga Cup will kick off on Sunday, 12th July with the Opening Ceremony at the AIS Arena before concluding on Friday, 17th June.