SOUTH WALES CHILDREN SHINE IN THE USA
The team successfully won the San Francisco Cup and came 3rd in the Los Angeles based tournament played in Anaheim. In both tournaments they were the only team from the UK and Europe competing.
The team made up of players from Ysgol Gyfun Bro Morgannwg and Cowbridge secondary school in the Vale of Glamorgan competed against teams from across USA and Mexico.
The PG10 players and staff also linked in with David Beckham former club “LA Galaxy” based in Los Angeles and were given a personal guided tour by former USA international and LA Galaxy legend Clint Mathis of the clubs stadium “The StubHub Center” and training ground facilities.
Mathis who was a star performer in the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea with the US national team gave the players a wonderful insight of the US Major Soccer league and the facilities at LA Galaxy.
The players also met Chivas USA, professional footballers and former Mexico international Juan Francisco Palencia who is Director of Football at Chivas USA who participated in two World Cups for his country. While being inspired at LA Galaxy the players also met NBA “Chicago Bulls” Basketball star Derrick Rose and the USA Girls national U18 team.
Speaking after the tournament PG10 Head Coach Peter Griffiths said " The tour of USA was a wonderful opportunity, not only for the children’s football development but also provided the young people with essential life skills and the opportunity to learn about different cultures in a competitive and fun sporting environment, to win such a prestigious tournament is a wonderful achievement and l cannot praise every player enough for their efforts and performances. The players and l have made new friends and waved the flag for Wales and the UK in USA, the experience will remain with the players forever!”
This unique opportunity was sponsored by Adidas, Virgin, Juice Plus, Visual Contour, Herbalife, Acorn, Alliance Healthcare, Hopwoods Pharmacy, Tesco Culverhouse Cross in Cardiff, Boomerang, Venture Insurance, Principality Building Society, Vale Caravan Park, Castell Howell Frozen Foods, Morgan Davies Estate Agents and Eriez Magnetics
Following on from the success, PG10 will be taking junior teams and coaches to Barcelona, Dubai and Gambia over the next 6 months as well as providing coaching opportunities in USA.
To get involved in PG10 opportunities, places are being taken for junior players aged 8-16 yrs old at PG10 Development Centres based in Cardiff and Vale of Glamorgan for more information please contact [email protected] or phone 07955270870
Peter Griffiths
PG10 Coaching U14 have recently returned from USA where the team took part in FIFA and USSF regulated unique international football tournaments in Los Angeles, San Francisco and Las Vegas.
Pictured with the Womens US National Team
After the tournament
Pictured at LA Galaxy
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