Ukrainian soccer team from England to tour U.S., raise money for charity (07/20/03)

Ukrainian soccer team from England to tour U.S., raise money for charity

YONKERS, N.Y. - The Manchester United football [soccer] club will bring its stars to the United States this summer with a four-city tour that will see it challenged by world-renowned clubs from Europe and Mexico - (including Celtic FC of Scotland, Club America of Mexico, Juventus of Italy and Barcelona of Spain).

Amid the excitement of the forthcoming Manchester United tour in the U.S., a group of British-Ukrainian supporters, officially known as Dynamo FC, will be playing a number of matches against local U.S. opposition soccer teams. Organizers of the supporters' trip, which will coincide with the premiership club's tour, hope to raise awareness for a Manchester-based landmine charity the Mine Advisory Group (MAG) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF).

The main event in the Ukrainian group's tour will be its participation in the 2003 East Coast Cup at the Ukrainian American Youth Association (SUM) resort in Ellenville, N.Y., on July 26 and 27. There, they will play against the best soccer squads that the Ukrainian Sports Federation of U.S.A. and Canada (USCAK) has to offer.

Yonkers SUM Krylati is hosting the tournament and other confirmed participants to date include: Chornomorska Sitch, Newark, N.J.; Levy of Stamford, Conn.; and Vatra of Long Island, N.Y. Invitations were also extended to Ukrainian sports clubs in New York City, Philadelphia, Cleveland, Chicago, Buffalo and Rochester, N.Y., and Toronto.

In other pre-arranged fixtures, Manchester Dynamo will take on a New Jersey team of Italians, Santa Croce SC (Tuesday, July 29, in Wayne, N.J.), as well as Philadelphia Tryzub (Saturday, August 2, in Horsham, Pa.).

The Manchester United supporters team is made up of both semi-professionals and amateurs, who have been actively involved in fund-raising events and raising money for a children's hospital charity. The team is gaining recognition for its good endeavors and continues to set an example as ambassadors of British-Ukrainian sporting heritage in the United Kingdom.

Organizer Slavko Mykosowski commented: "The whole team is really excited and can't wait for this unique tour. We'd like to promote and give our profits to MAG so they can clear more land, so children all over the world in these affected areas can play football [soccer] without fear."

For further information readers may call the 2003 East Coast Cup director, Mark Howansky, at (201) 864-5751.

| Home Page |