Founded back in 1977 as an Under-16 football tournament by then Football Association of Singapore (FAS) president N. Ganesan and hailed as the only such competition in the world, the Lion City Cup has come a long way since then.
Today will mark the start of the 24th edition of this youth football tournament, the oldest of its kind worldwide, with the final scheduled to be held next Sunday, 1st July.
Canon Singapore, which first came onboard as the title sponsor last year, has extended its sponsorship to 2013 following the success of the 23rd Canon Lion City Cup, which featured teams like Newcastle, Everton, Juventus and Flamengo, alongside our very own National Football Academy (NFA) U15 and U16 teams.
The young Cubs, as they were termed, caught the imagination of the nation’s football supporters with their bright and lively displays, as the U15s finished third and the U16s came in runners-up after losing on penalties to eventual champions Flamengo.
This year, the U15s and U16s will return to do battle with the likes of Porto, Manchester City, Ajax Amsterdam and Vasco da Gama, who possess a number of youth internationals in their squads.
U16 star Adam Swandi, hugely impressive last year, has been tipped as one to watch for the future and the nation’s eyes will be on him and the rest of his NFA teammates as they embark on their quest for glory.
Do come down to the Jalan Besar Stadium to cheer on our nation’s very own youngsters in the 24th Lion City Cup!
Fixtures are scheduled as below:
|
Date
|
Group
|
Time
|
Fixtures
|
|
Saturday, 23rd June
|
A
|
6 PM
|
AFC Ajax
|
v
|
NFA U16
|
|
B
|
8.45 PM
|
Vasco da Gama
|
v
|
NFA U15
|
|
Monday, 25th June
|
B
|
6 PM
|
Manchester City
|
v
|
Vasco da Gama
|
|
A
|
8.45 PM
|
NFA U16
|
v
|
FC Porto
|
|
Wednesday, 27th June
|
A
|
6 PM
|
FC Porto
|
v
|
AFC Ajax
|
|
B
|
8.45 PM
|
NFA U15
|
v
|
Manchester City
|
|
Friday, 29th June
|
Semi-final 1
|
6 PM
|
Manchester City
|
v
|
AFC Ajax
|
|
Semi-final 2
|
8.45 PM
|
NFA U-16
|
v
|
Vasco da Gama
|
|
Sunday, 1st July
|
5th/6th
|
3.15 PM
|
FC Porto
|
v
|
NFA U15
|
|
3rd/4th
|
6 PM
|
Loser of SF 1
|
v
|
Loser of SF 2
|
|
Final
|
8.45 PM
|
Winner of SF 1
|
v
|
Winner of SF 2
|
You can follow me on Twitter at www.twitter.com/tengkiat and reach me at tengkiat@footballopod.com
Visit http://www.footballopod.com/teams/NationalFootaballA for more information on the NFA U16 squad!
Visit http://www.footballopod.com/teams/NFAU-15 for more information on the NFA U15 squad!
Visit http://www.footballopod.com/teams/AFCAJAXU15 for more information on the AFC Ajax U15 squad!
Visit http://www.footballopod.com/teams/VASCODAGAMAU15 for more information on the Vasco Da Gama U15 squad!
Visit http://www.footballopod.com/teams/FCPORTOU15 for more information on the FC Porto U15 squad!
Visit http://www.footballopod.com/teams/MANCHESTERCITYU15 for more information on the Manchester City U15 squad!