PARIS – The waiting is almost over for the Fiji U-12 football team as the Danone Nations Cup gets ready for the big kick-off at the Parc de Prince in Paris this weekend.
Fiji qualified for the popular tournament after it won the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) Youth Festival held in Noumea, New Caledonia, back in May as the French Overseas Territory celebrated the career of Christian Karembeu at Stade Numa Daly with a testimonial match that included stars from the 1998 FIFA World Cup winning French team.
Zinedine Zidane, Franck LeBeouf, Robert Pires, Youri Djokaeff, Laurent Blanc, and Bernard Lama were amongst the stars of that event as Fiji’s youngsters surged to a memorable victory and a first time trip to Europe.
Coach Farouk Janeman was ecstatic with the performance of the team against the cream of the Oceania crop and will be hoping his youngsters can repeat those memorable efforts in what promises to be a fun event that engages both football and a wonderful cultural experience.
Fiji has been drawn into a tough section alongside Switzerland, Belgium, Netherlands and Qatar and will do well to repeat Vanuatu’s fine efforts in 2007 when the Oceania representatives finished in 19th place out of 40 countries.
The three day tournament will see Fiji open with all four group matches on Friday 5th September with those results determining play-off positions for Match Day 2 and Match Day 3.
The Danone Nations Cup has become the world’s top football tournament for children in the 10-12 age group, and has already made 15 million kids’ dreams come true.
The World Final is the culmination of a year of competition, over five continents. The winners of the national tournaments in the 40 participating countries come together in a prestigious stadium, filled with bigger and bigger crowds, to play their favourite sport under the proud gaze of some of the greatest stars of the international game, and in particular the event’s sponsor: Zinedine Zidane.
Endorsed by FIFA and the FFF (the French Football Association), the World Final of the Danone Nations Cup is a true festival of sport, which brings together 600 children from different countries and cultures. The event is based on four fundamental values: openness, pleasure of the game, fair-play and accessibility.
More than just a football tournament, every year the Danone Nations Cup gives thousands of kids the chance to "believe in their dreams", taking part in a unique experience where the emphasis is firmly on openness and fraternity.
The Danone Nations Cup also gives hope to hundreds of children affected by illness, donating all revenues from ticket sales to the association ELA, which is sponsored by Zinedine Zidane.
THE FULL DRAW:
GROUP A
Switzerland, Belgium, Netherlands, Fiji, Qatar
GROUP B
Brazil, Ireland, Tunisia, South Africa, Indonesia
GROUP C
Spain, Italy, Poland, India, Saudi Arabia
GROUP D
Czech Republic, Algeria, Portugal, Mexico, Cameroon
GROUP E
Germany, Bulgaria, Guatemala, Morocco, Argentina
GROUP F
England, Turkey, Romania, China, Bangladesh
GROUP G
France, Russia, Ukraine, Canada, Egypt
FIXTURES AND KICK-OFF TIMES (GROUP A)
Friday 5th September 2008
Netherlands vs. Fiji
Kick-Off: 09h30 (local)/18h00 (Fiji Time)
Fiji vs. Qatar
Kick-Off: 12h10 (local)/21h10 (Fiji Time)
Belgium vs. Fiji
Kick-Off: 15h10 (local time)/00h10 (Fiji Time)
Friday 5th September 2008/Saturday 6th September 2008*
Switzerland vs. Fiji
Kick-Off: 16h30 (local time)/01h30 (Fiji Time)*
For all the latest news and updates from the Danone Nations Cup please visit www.danonenationscup.com