One of the high spots of youth football in Otago is when the Milk Cup draw is made, and youngsters keenly await the names of what can be quite intimidating opposition.
This year, head coach Neil Mackenzie was as excited as his playing squad was to hear that Otago would be playing Club America de Mexico, one of the biggest clubs in Mexico City.
The Milk Cup draw was made this week in Belfast by none other than Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers, who himself played three times in the competition as a lad.
Rodgers highly rates the competition, which is played in late July.
''As a footballer, playing in the Milk Cup is one of the best experiences you'll ever have in your life,'' he said.
''It's about enjoyment and experience and that is what youth football is all about.''
Liverpool's youth team will return, competing in both the premier and junior sections. Everton, Manchester United, Southampton and Newcastle United are also representing the Premier League.
Mackenzie said Otago was looking forward to playing against a powerhouse such as Club America.
''It's worth remembering that there are around 20 million people in Mexico City,'' he said.
''Club America runs over 40 `Eagles' coaching academies called 'nests' to train its youngsters.''
Mackenzie and his assistants Andy Duncan and Matt Scoles, have held a week-long training camp at Ellis Park, with good attendance by aspiring Milk Cup candidates.
''We expect to be competitive, and hope possibly to repeat the success we had in winning the premier section plate in 2011,'' Mackenzie said.
The Milk Cup teams for 2013 are: Manchester United, Otago, Southampton, Vendee FC, Cruz Azul, Cherry Orchard, America de Mexico, County Tyrone, County Fermanagh, CSKA Moscow, SC Corinthians, Bohemians FC, County Londonderry, Newcastle United, O'Higgins FC (Chile), Liverpool, TUS Altenberge, Strikers FC, Plymouth Argyle, Japan FA, Brentford FC, Barcelona Sporting de Ecuador, Watford FC, Colina (Chile), Liverpool, Swindon Town and Everton, as well as several other Irish county sides.
Footballsouth Premier League leader Green Island has six former Milk Cup players in its ranks: Dan Rutter, Liam Dungey, Jesse Smith, Sean Flett, Matt Mitchell and Cam McPhail.
Green Island plays bottom team Grants Braes at Sunnyvale today, and the Caledonian Ground hosts two matches. At 12.45pm, Northern plays Mosgiel in a match both teams need to win to move away from the lower regions. At 2.45pm, another tight match is in the offing, between high-flying University and Roslyn-Wakari.
Probably the tightest match will be at Tonga Park at 2.45pm, where Caversham will look to preserve its three-point lead from Dunedin Technical. In Invercargill, Old Boys plays Queenstown. Both teams are on three points.
