http://www.hksoccersevens.com/news/item/stoke-city...
Hong Kong, 14 April 2015 -
English
Premier League club Stoke City were drawn with Spanish champions
Atletico Madrid in Group D of next month’s 16th HKFC Citibank Soccer
Sevens in Hong Kong.
HKFA U-20 and Yau Yee League Select will also feature in the
high-profile group at Hong Kong Football Club, which will host the
international seven-a-side event from May 29-31 and was also the venue
for Tuesday’s Official Draw.
Newcastle United, the 2012 champions and 2013 runners-up, are the top
seeds in Group A, which also features 2013 winners Leicester City, a
Hong Kong Premier League club to be confirmed and Singapore Cricket
Club.
West Ham United, back for the first time since 2012, will face Hong Kong
champions Kitchee – the 2011 winners and last year’s finalists –
Chinese Super League club Shanghai SIPG and HKFC Captain’s Select in
Group B.
In Group C, five-time champions Aston Villa were drawn with first-timers
Wellington Phoenix of New Zealand, a Hong Kong Premier League club and
hosts Hong Kong Football Club.
Citibank, which has title sponsored the HKFC Citibank Soccer Sevens
since 2011, also confirmed a new four-year title sponsorship of the
event from 2015 to 2018.
Weber Lo, Citi Country Officer and Chief Executive Officer, Hong Kong
and Macau, said: “We are thrilled to be the title sponsor for the HKFC
Citibank Soccer Sevens once again this year. Citi is committed to
continue building this event into one of the world’s best seven-a-side
tournaments.
“On this note, it’s exciting to see Spanish champions Atletico Madrid in
this year’s event, which shows how its reputation is growing globally.
We’re also proud to welcome Wellington Phoenix and Shanghai SIPG for the
first time, and expect strong support for the five English Premier
League clubs and local Hong Kong teams.”
Tony Bratsanos, Chairman of the HKFC Citibank Soccer Sevens Organising
Committee, said Citibank’s sponsorship enabled the tournament to attract
international teams, with clubs coming from England, Spain, New
Zealand, China and Singapore this year.
“Citibank’s sponsorship is huge for the tournament and will enable us to
keep growing this event. Obviously Atletico Madrid are a huge draw this
year, while Aston Villa, Newcastle, West Ham and Leicester have a
traditional fanbase at the tournament, having competed before,”
Bratsanos said.
“Stoke City are coming for the first time, which is exciting because The
Potters are enjoying a strong season. Wellington Phoenix and Shanghai
SIPG are bringing experienced squads for their debut, so should be
pretty competitive.”
In the Masters Tournament for over-35 players, Wallsend Boys Club and
USRC - BTS were drawn as the top seeds in Group A, which also features
Kitchee All Stars, Kowloon Cricket Club and HKFC Veterans.
Seeds Citibank All Stars and Nottingham Forest Mobsters headline Group
B, which includes SCC Tigers, Discovery Bay and HKFC Chairman’s Select.
This year’s 10-team Masters Tournament has a new format, starting with
two round-robin groups followed by the Cup semi-finals and final.
Mark Sutcliffe, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Football Association,
said the HKFC Citibank Soccer Sevens held a special place in the local
football calendar.
“The HKFC Citibank Soccer Sevens is one of the city’s most popular
annual tournaments for local players and fans, and we expect another
fantastic three days at Hong Kong Football Club,” Sutcliffe said.
“Kitchee won the HKFC Citibank Soccer Sevens in 2011 and reached last
year’s final, so we expect them to proudly represent the Hong Kong
Premier League, while we’re also proud to have the HKFA U-20 team
compete, especially after our national youth teams did so well last year
to reach the quarter-finals.”
Entry is free on the Friday evening, while tickets for the weekend are
priced at HK$160 per day or HK$300 for a two-day pass and will be
available through Cityline (www.cityline.com). The tournament will start with the opening round of Masters group games on Friday evening, May 29.
Main Tournament
Group A: Newcastle United (ENG), Leicester City (ENG), HK Premier League Club 1 (HKG), Singapore Cricket Club (SIN)
Group B: West Ham United (ENG), Kitchee (HKG), Shanghai SIPG (CHN), HKFC Captain’s Select (HKG)
Group C: Aston Villa (ENG), Wellington Phoenix (NZL), HK Premier League Club 2 (HKG), Hong Kong Football Club (HKG)
Group D: Stoke City (ENG), Atletico Madrid (SPA), HKFA U-20 (HKG), Yau Yee League Select (HKG)
Masters Tournament
Group A: Wallsend Boys Club (ENG), USRC - BTS (HKG), Kitchee All Stars (HKG), Kowloon Cricket Club (HKG), HKFC Veterans (HKG)
Group B: Citibank All Stars (INT), Nottingham Forest Mobsters (ENG), SCC Tigers (SIN), Discovery Bay (HKG), HKFC Chairman’s Select (HKG)
"Phoenix till they lose"
COYN 