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ABC Valencia kids look to impress in Disney Cup

ABC Valencia winger Z’Dao Dill dribbles the ball during a practise session at the Arboretum under the watchful eye of team coach Maceo Dill.(Photo by Mark Tatem)

Reigning Kappa Alpha Under-10 champions ABC Valencia will be among the teams looking to make a good impression at this month’s Disney International Cup in Orlando, Florida.The local youth team are competing in the Under-11 age group at the upcoming eight-a-side tournament to be held from July 16-21 at the World Wide Sports Complex.ABC Valencia’s 13-man squad boasts the likes of Z’Dao Dill, Ne-Jai Tucker, Sondai Tucker, Nasje Brockington and Jacob Estis who all have previous experience playing in the Disney International Cup.Accompanying the local team to Florida are coaches Maceo Dill and Eddie Redman.Former North Village player and coach Dill said the Disney event represented another opportunity to test Bermudian players on the world stage.“The tournament will provide another opportunity for the players to play against foreign opponents and understand different styles of playing the game,” he said. “These experiences help us to grow as we are exposed to higher levels of organisation and professionalism and also get to play on really good surfaces against very disciplined teams.”With several team members having already savoured glory at the Disney International Cup, Dill said expectations would be high on ABC Valencia.“This team is a group of alpha males, so having already won this tournament there is an expectation to do well but putting things into perspective we have entered the Under-11 age group to accommodate our five 11 year-olds with the other players in their early 10s,” he added. “The players are very excited and are preparing well for the tournament.”Dill said senior players such as Estis and Brockington have been “very helpful in communicating to the rest of the team what to expect” in Florida.ABC Valencia will play Real Madrid of Florida in their opening group match before facing the likes of HBC All-Stars from New York and Racing Aruba.This year’s cup competition will also feature teams from Brazil, Peru, Costa Rica, Panama and USA that hold ties with top European clubs such as Real Madrid.“What I understand from my travels is that top European clubs in an effort to spread their brand world wide are partnering with organisations throughout the world in a global effort to improve football and find and develop the next world class players,” Dill said. “So for me it’s exciting to be part of that process as it presents another development opportunity and I would like to thank Andrew Bascome, Henrick Schroder and Richard Pitcher for showing belief in my abilities to allow me to work with such a special talented group of young players. We all hope to do ABC Valencia and Bermuda proud.”ABC Valencia earned the right to represent Bermuda as reward for winning the 2012 Kappa Alpha Classic.