2 August 2023
Northwood School will play host to the FC Bayern Youth Cup, on 5 and 6 August, when the series, the biggest of its kind in the world, visits South Africa.
Bayern Munich is one of the leading names in club football, and the most successful team in the history of the Bundesliga, which boasts the highest average attendance of any football league in the world.
The club has won the Bundesliga for 11 consecutive seasons since 2013, with their 2020 season being one of almost unmatched success. In fact, only twice in history has that season been matched: victory in the UEFA Champions League (with wins in all of their matches), and champions of the Bundesliga, DFB-Pokal, the DFL-Supercup, UEFA Super Cup, and FIFA Club World Cup.
For those wondering, the other sextuple winners were FC Barcelona in 2009. With Barca, then coached by Pep Guardiola, providing the core of the Spanish national team, Spain went on to win the 2010 Fifa World Cup in South Africa.
Feather in the cap
Back to the present, it’s an outsized feather in Northwood’s cap to have Bayern Munich hold their prestigious event at the Durban North school.
The FC Bayern Youth Cup was introduced in 2012 and has been conducted in selected countries around the world with existing FC Bayern partners.
The stated aim of the Youth Cup is to give children worldwide an opportunity to show their talent, regardless of their social background.
National teams
Events vary in size, with the largest of them featuring in excess of 10 000 players over the course of several months. At the conclusion of the events in each country, an FC Bayern representative selects a National Team, made up of the best 10 male players, age from 14 to 16.
The National Team’s then travel to Munich to participate in the FC Bayern Youth Cup World Final, facing the best players from the other participating countries, with the World Final being played at the home of FC Bayern, the Allianz Arena, the day after the club’s last home match of the season.
National Teams arrive in the Bavarian capital well before their matches begin, which allows them time to participate in five-day training camps under the guidance of FC Bayern coaches.
They’re also afforded opportunities to explore Munich and to meet the club’s world-famous 1st team players.
No doubt, many scouts will eagerly take in the action, and the event at Northwood is an opportunity for South African players to catch their eyes.
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