The Football Otago Youth Development Trust will again send a team of the most promising young footballers in the South to an exciting overseas tournament next year.
But the destination will not, as it has been so often since the first hardy FOYDAT travellers left these shores a couple of decades ago, be the Super Cup — formerly known as the Milk Cup — in Northern Ireland.
That tournament has tinkered with its format and left some casualties in its wake.
"They reduced each age-group from 20 teams to 16," longtime Otago organiser Neil McKenzie said.
"Six of those teams are always county teams from Northern Ireland, so that only leaves 10."
After academy teams from prominent clubs like Manchester United, Brighton and Rangers were invited, there were only three spots left, and they were handed to other international teams.
"I struggle to see how they picked Manchester United above us," McKenzie joked.
The Super Cup has also expanded to include both female footballers and younger age-groups, so it was going to be exceptionally difficult to make accommodation arrangements anyway, he said.
‘It’s a bit sad in a way, but in another way it’s quite exciting."
Happily, a solution for the Otago footballers with itchy feet has been found.
They have been invited to the Villarreal Yellow Cup Easter.
The tournament is hosted by the Spanish club — who sit third in La Liga after a strong start to the season — at their facilities in the Castellon province in eastern Spain.
Otago’s lads will get to enjoy the beaches of Costa del Azahar while playing at least four games, rubbing shoulders with teams from around the world, and visiting Estadio de la Ceramica, Villarreal’s home stadium, also known as El Madrigal.
"They put together a really great package," McKenzie said.
"They have their own accommodation park and also a range of hotels. They pick us up at Barcelona airport and we get three training sessions with their coaches and a warm-up game against their academy."
The Otago team will leave on March 25 and return on April 10.
Making the cut for the touring squad is always a competitive process, and 44 young men were put through some trials at the weekend.
The final trial will be on November 2, after which a preliminary squad of 22 will have several weeks of intensive training, and the fundraising will begin in earnest.
A final squad of 18 players, along with four non-travelling reserves, will be named on December 14.
Tim Horner, Andy Duncan and Murray Devereux will return as coaches, Matt Scoles is back as tour leader, and a physio will be named.
