Emirates Challenge 2008 - a platform for budding youngsters

The fifth Emirates Airline Young Footballer Challenge will be held on May 16 at the Victor Tedesco Stadium in Hamrun.

Organised by Arsenal Malta Supporters Club (AMSC), in conjunction with Emirates Airline and with the support of Arsenal FC, the Challenge is becoming a platform for talented youngsters.

Clubs in Malta and Gozo are invited to register two of their best young female and male footballers, born in 1995 and 1996 (U-11 and U-12).

During the event's briefing at the AMSC premises in Sta Venera, club chairman Richard Felice Pace announced that Arsenal FC were delighted with their participation at last year's event and have already committed their support for this year's edition.

The Premier League club will be sending two senior official youth coaches to Malta to oversee the event and assist the adjudicating panel, which will be made up of three established Maltese coaches.

Felice Pace said that the Arsenal Supporters Club believes that this event provides an opportunity for young aspiring footballers to test their soccer skills individually rather than as a team.

In 2004, Emirates airline, signed the biggest sponsorship deal in football history with Arsenal FC worth £100 million. The agreement also included Emirates' naming rights to Arsenal's new £357m home, the Emirates Stadium, for the next 15 years.

Malta is continuing to build on the success of the previous four editions of the Challenge. Emirates' Manager for Malta and Cyprus, Paul Fleri Soler, said: "Emirates continues to believe in this initiative for young aspiring footballers. Past winners of the Challenge have eventually gained further opportunities in their training."

AMSC Event Co-ordinator, Peter Paul Gauci, gave details of the competition.

"Apart from holding it at a new venue, parents and friends of the young participants are invited to attend and watch the competition. The event will commence at 6 p.m."

The Challenge will round off with the presentation of the Emirates Challenge Shield and Arsenal FC merchandise to the winners and their clubs.

The closing date of entries is April 19.

Practical session

Football coaches from local youth nurseries are invited to attend a practical session conducted by Arsenal FC coaches. This will be followed by a question and answer session. The activity will be held on May 17, between 9 and 11 a.m., at the Tedesco Stadium.

In conjunction with the Emirates Challenge, AMSC is holding a separate activity for junior Arsenal Supporters Club members. AMSC members are now able to register their children aged five to 15 years for the soccer session.