Two young Tauranga footballers are about to embark on the trip of a lifetime, heading to Barcelona to play in the huge Mediterranean International Cup, as sports editor Kelly Exelby writes.
As far as footballing sojourns go they don't get much bigger.
Barcelona, Manchester United, Real Madrid, Ajax, Inter Milan, Arsenal, FC Porto . . . the names stack up like a who's who of the world's biggest clubs.
Two Tauranga 14-year-olds, Connor Irvine and Sam Flatt, will be in hallowed company in two weeks when they front for All Whites coach Ricki Herbert's fledgling 82 Football Academy at the massive Mediterranean International Cup tournament in Barcelona.
The MIC is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year on Spain's north coast and Herbert's academy, based in Queenstown, has taken up the challenge by sending a team of 14-year-olds.
Irvine, the son of former Mt Maunganui national league player Andy Irvine, who now lives in Taranaki, expects the tournament, which will take them away for 12 days, to be an eye-opener for the New Zealand-based Academy side.
Spread throughout New Zealand, the squad was having its first full training together this week in Christchurch.
"It's going to be massive, particularly as most of the boys have never played in anything like this before.
Read more in today's Bay of Plenty Times
Academy lads face up to world's big boys
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.