Press release issued by Unity Cup organisers
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Press release issued by Unity Cup organisers
The Unity Cup - “football with a purpose”
Optima Sports Management International (OSMi) are proud to announce the Unity Cup International Football Tournament to take place in London between May 29th and June 2nd 2004.
The Unity Cup is a triangular tournament with the senior teams of Jamaica, Nigeria, and the Republic of Ireland participating. The host venue is Charlton Athletics’ “The Valley” 26,500 capacity stadium located in Charlton, North Greenwich, London.
The match calendar is:
Saturday 29th May: Republic of Ireland v Nigeria
Monday 31st May: Nigeria v Jamaica (Bank Holiday)
Wednesday 2nd June: Republic of Ireland v Jamaica
The aim of the Unity Cup is to continue to use international football as a vehicle to set new standards in cultural appreciation in the UK. The Unity Cup builds on the great success of the OSMi organised “NiJam” (Nigeria v Jamaica) game played in May 2002. The Unity Cup 2004 has benefited by extending the hand of unity to the Republic of Ireland.
The vision and ethos behind the Unity Cup is important because it seeks to encourage members of London’s black and minority ethnic communities to engage with our national sport. The event directly addresses the issue of the under-representation of ethnic minority spectators attending football matches. The Unity Cup is much more than a football match – it is a community event bringing together London’s diverse populations.
Stars on show at the Unity Cup will include Roy Keane (Man Utd/Rep. Ireland), Jay Jay Okocha (Bolton/Nigeria), Damien Duff (Chelsea/Rep. Ireland) , Kanu (Arsenal/Nigeria) , Robbie Keane (Tottenham/Rep. Ireland), Ricardo Gardner (Bolton/Jamaica), Kevin Lisbie (Charlton/Jamaica), Shay Given (Newcastle/Rep. Ireland) and Matt Holland (Charlton/Rep. Ireland); amongst others.
The tournament is the final preparation for the participating teams forthcoming World Cup qualification games.
Optima Sports Management International is an integrated group of sports marketing and service companies developing, marketing and servicing sports properties in the United Kingdom, West Indies and Africa. OSMi is the brand through which the company performs most of its operations and continues to make good progress in the global sports marketing industry. Previous OSMi international football friendlies include: Nigeria v Greece, Nigeria v Paraguay, Nigeria v Jamaica, and Nigeria v Brazil. For more information on OSMi please visit www.optima-sports.com
The Unity Cup – Portraits
Roy Keane’s last appearance in the green of Ireland was almost two years ago also against Nigeria. Perhaps his return to the starting Irish eleven will be once again at The Unity Cup when he faces the Super Eagles. He will line up alongside Manchester United team-mate John O’Shea and Liam Miller who will officially join the club on 1st July.
Charlton Athletic can claim a strong connection with the Unity Cup besides being the tournament’s host. Charlton captain Matt Holland is a key player for the Republic of Ireland, and former Charlton captain Mark Kinsella (now with WBA) is also a stalwart for the Irish. Charlton No.1 Dean Kiely recently retired from international duty with Brian Kerr’s men. Charlton also provide Jamaican star Kevin Lisbie and potential Reggae Boy Jason Euell. Charlton squad player Jamal Campbell-Ryce has also appeared in Jamaican colours. Preston and Reggae Boyz star Ricardo Fuller was close to signing with The d#$% before eventually joining PNE.
Bolton Wanderers can also claim a strong affinity to the Unity Cup. Jamaican stars Ricardo Gardner and Donovan Ricketts are on the books at The Reebok, and so was Reggae Boy Jermaine Johnson until recently moving to nearby Oldham Athletic. Bolton and Super Eagles Captain, Jay Jay Okocha has had an outstanding season in the club colours. Nigerian goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama, goalkeeper of the tournament in the recent African Cup of Nations, is currently on an extended trial with Bolton.
The Unity Cup will present Clinton Morrison a chance to play against Jamaica after choosing to represent the Republic of Ireland ahead of the Reggae Boyz.
The Nigeria v Ireland game on May 29th will be eagerly awaited by Everton team-mates Kevin Kilbane and Joseph Yobo, and also by Chelsea team-mates Celestine Babayaro and Damien Duff.
The Nigeria v Jamaica game on Bank Holiday Monday May 31st will see Bolton goalkeepers Vincent Enyeama and Donovon Ricketts in opposing goals. The match will also reunite the two JJ’s – Okocha and Jermaine Johnson – former team-mates at Bolton.
The Jamaica v Ireland game on June 2nd will see Charlton team-mates Kevin Lisbie and Matt Holland square up.
The three sets of fans are arguably the real stars of the show and will bring a colourful, carnival like atmosphere to The Valley. The Irish fans were honoured with the Fair Play Award in 1997 by FIFA. They were also voted the best travelling supporters by the Japanese Organising Committee of the 2002 World Cup. “I believe the Irish fans taught Japanese supporters should really get behind their team even when they went a goal behind. At all times they were perfectly behaved and great ambassadors for their country,” said tournament director Junji Ogura. The NiJam game in 2002 was from beginning to end accompanied by music and song from both sets of fans who totalled 16,000 in number.
“Hoards of exuberant fans descended on QPR’s Loftus Road stadium for the NiJam Unity Cup – the much talked about showdown between Nigeria and Jamaica… On paper the game amounted to a friendly of little consequence on neutral ground, but in reality London is anything but neutral turf for the vibrant Nigerian and Jamaican communities… The fans of the teams brought a unique flavour to an English league ground and a taste of the World Cup to West London. The atmosphere was frenzied yet friendly, animated yet appreciative – oh how dearly hosts QPR would wish for this degree of passion and level of support week in, week out.” Extract taken from www.kickitout.org - 21/5/02
Optima Sports Management International (OSMi) are proud to announce the Unity Cup International Football Tournament to take place in London between May 29th and June 2nd 2004.
The Unity Cup is a triangular tournament with the senior teams of Jamaica, Nigeria, and the Republic of Ireland participating. The host venue is Charlton Athletics’ “The Valley” 26,500 capacity stadium located in Charlton, North Greenwich, London.
The match calendar is:
Saturday 29th May: Republic of Ireland v Nigeria
Monday 31st May: Nigeria v Jamaica (Bank Holiday)
Wednesday 2nd June: Republic of Ireland v Jamaica
The aim of the Unity Cup is to continue to use international football as a vehicle to set new standards in cultural appreciation in the UK. The Unity Cup builds on the great success of the OSMi organised “NiJam” (Nigeria v Jamaica) game played in May 2002. The Unity Cup 2004 has benefited by extending the hand of unity to the Republic of Ireland.
The vision and ethos behind the Unity Cup is important because it seeks to encourage members of London’s black and minority ethnic communities to engage with our national sport. The event directly addresses the issue of the under-representation of ethnic minority spectators attending football matches. The Unity Cup is much more than a football match – it is a community event bringing together London’s diverse populations.
Stars on show at the Unity Cup will include Roy Keane (Man Utd/Rep. Ireland), Jay Jay Okocha (Bolton/Nigeria), Damien Duff (Chelsea/Rep. Ireland) , Kanu (Arsenal/Nigeria) , Robbie Keane (Tottenham/Rep. Ireland), Ricardo Gardner (Bolton/Jamaica), Kevin Lisbie (Charlton/Jamaica), Shay Given (Newcastle/Rep. Ireland) and Matt Holland (Charlton/Rep. Ireland); amongst others.
The tournament is the final preparation for the participating teams forthcoming World Cup qualification games.
Optima Sports Management International is an integrated group of sports marketing and service companies developing, marketing and servicing sports properties in the United Kingdom, West Indies and Africa. OSMi is the brand through which the company performs most of its operations and continues to make good progress in the global sports marketing industry. Previous OSMi international football friendlies include: Nigeria v Greece, Nigeria v Paraguay, Nigeria v Jamaica, and Nigeria v Brazil. For more information on OSMi please visit www.optima-sports.com
The Unity Cup – Portraits
Roy Keane’s last appearance in the green of Ireland was almost two years ago also against Nigeria. Perhaps his return to the starting Irish eleven will be once again at The Unity Cup when he faces the Super Eagles. He will line up alongside Manchester United team-mate John O’Shea and Liam Miller who will officially join the club on 1st July.
Charlton Athletic can claim a strong connection with the Unity Cup besides being the tournament’s host. Charlton captain Matt Holland is a key player for the Republic of Ireland, and former Charlton captain Mark Kinsella (now with WBA) is also a stalwart for the Irish. Charlton No.1 Dean Kiely recently retired from international duty with Brian Kerr’s men. Charlton also provide Jamaican star Kevin Lisbie and potential Reggae Boy Jason Euell. Charlton squad player Jamal Campbell-Ryce has also appeared in Jamaican colours. Preston and Reggae Boyz star Ricardo Fuller was close to signing with The d#$% before eventually joining PNE.
Bolton Wanderers can also claim a strong affinity to the Unity Cup. Jamaican stars Ricardo Gardner and Donovan Ricketts are on the books at The Reebok, and so was Reggae Boy Jermaine Johnson until recently moving to nearby Oldham Athletic. Bolton and Super Eagles Captain, Jay Jay Okocha has had an outstanding season in the club colours. Nigerian goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama, goalkeeper of the tournament in the recent African Cup of Nations, is currently on an extended trial with Bolton.
The Unity Cup will present Clinton Morrison a chance to play against Jamaica after choosing to represent the Republic of Ireland ahead of the Reggae Boyz.
The Nigeria v Ireland game on May 29th will be eagerly awaited by Everton team-mates Kevin Kilbane and Joseph Yobo, and also by Chelsea team-mates Celestine Babayaro and Damien Duff.
The Nigeria v Jamaica game on Bank Holiday Monday May 31st will see Bolton goalkeepers Vincent Enyeama and Donovon Ricketts in opposing goals. The match will also reunite the two JJ’s – Okocha and Jermaine Johnson – former team-mates at Bolton.
The Jamaica v Ireland game on June 2nd will see Charlton team-mates Kevin Lisbie and Matt Holland square up.
The three sets of fans are arguably the real stars of the show and will bring a colourful, carnival like atmosphere to The Valley. The Irish fans were honoured with the Fair Play Award in 1997 by FIFA. They were also voted the best travelling supporters by the Japanese Organising Committee of the 2002 World Cup. “I believe the Irish fans taught Japanese supporters should really get behind their team even when they went a goal behind. At all times they were perfectly behaved and great ambassadors for their country,” said tournament director Junji Ogura. The NiJam game in 2002 was from beginning to end accompanied by music and song from both sets of fans who totalled 16,000 in number.
“Hoards of exuberant fans descended on QPR’s Loftus Road stadium for the NiJam Unity Cup – the much talked about showdown between Nigeria and Jamaica… On paper the game amounted to a friendly of little consequence on neutral ground, but in reality London is anything but neutral turf for the vibrant Nigerian and Jamaican communities… The fans of the teams brought a unique flavour to an English league ground and a taste of the World Cup to West London. The atmosphere was frenzied yet friendly, animated yet appreciative – oh how dearly hosts QPR would wish for this degree of passion and level of support week in, week out.” Extract taken from www.kickitout.org - 21/5/02
