South Americans flair coming

While the worldwide sporting focus will turn to Rio for the Olympic Games during August, entertainment is the name of the game for organisers of the Northern Ireland soccer competition with the red carpet rolling out for two teams from Brazil along with representatives from Chile and Colombia in this summer’s Premier tournament at the end of July.

Ponte Preta is now the oldest club in Brazil and the Sao Paulo based outfit will be represented here for the first time.

Ascasco Audax, also from Sao Paulo, will join them on the trek to the Province as Brazilian teams continue to land a third Premier title at the top international youth title.

“There is always a special buzz around South American teams at our event and Brazilian sides in particular, “reveals tournament chairman Victor Leonard.

“We have established excellent relations with them over the years and had winners in Fluminense and Desportivo in the past at this level, while Corinthians won the Junior event two years ago.”

Club sides from Vitoria and Botafogo have also competed in the past as well as national representatives in the former Elite competition which Vitoria won way back in 1999.

“Our supporters love the exciting brand of football these teams always bring,” added Victor

Also jetting in for the Premier competition will be Chile’s O’Higgins and the Alset Academy from Bogata in Colombia while central America will have Club America from Mexico attempting to make an impact.