From 28 April to 1 May, 40 Italian and foreign under-13 football teams will compete on the fields of Gallura, including the English of Crystal Palace, the French of Paris Saint Germain, the Spanish of Espanyol de Barcelona, the Bulgarians of CSKA of Sofia and of Ludogorets, the Swedes of Malmoe.

Among others, they will challenge Juventus, Milan, Inter, Atalanta, Rome and other top Italian teams.

Among the winners of this edition Javier Zanetti, former footballer and current Vice-President of Inter.

After the special Silver Wedding celebrated last year, the “Manlio Selis” World Tournament, the “Mundialito per club” for the Beginners category, returns with the 26th edition scheduled from 28 April to 1 May.

The under 13 formations of the most important Italian and foreign professional clubs and the amateur realities of the whole Italian territory will stop on the island to participate in an event that has now become a reference point for the sports and tourist programming of the Sardinia Region, sponsor of the event, under the aegis of Coni, Figc and Fifa.

THE TEAMS. There will be 40 teams at the starting line in the municipalities that, with the Autonomous Region of Sardinia, sponsor the event: Olbia, Arzachena, Buddusò, Monti, Calangianus and Tempio, venue of the Final.

THE PRESS CONFERENCE. The 26th edition of the “Manlio Selis” – Le Coq Sportif Cup was presented today in the conference room of the Hotel Luci della Montagna in Porto Cervo.

The Amazon Prime journalist Alessandro Alciato was the host of the conference, who opened by presenting the summary video of the many athletes who passed from Selis before reaching the peaks of national and international football.

Following the words of the promoter of the event, Enea Selis:

«This is the first edition in which two of my great collaborators will be missing together – she recalled – but above all two great friends. But it’s also for them that I will continue to do what my father inspired me over 25 years ago.

Working for young people, with young people, giving them a great opportunity for growth, an opportunity to exchange and socialize with their peers driven by the same great passion for football. This 26th edition will be an even more spectacular edition, which will return to 40 teams and which will also have its own social appendix this year thanks to the Selis Social Goal for Peace Tournament. Last year children from Israel and Palestine came, and will return, and this year we could not help but think of other children, those from the Ukrainian territory, who for too long have been unable to play carefree, live a peaceful life, just as they should. This team will be a message for adults, those who unfortunately still decide to go to war in peacetime.”

PATRONAGE. The patronage that every year comes from the Region of Sardinia is fundamental, through the Councilor for Sport Andrea Biancareddu and for Tourism, Gianni Chessa, who supports the Selis Tournament having recognized in the event an important vehicle for sporting, cultural and tourist promotion: «The presence of Region next to the Selis Tournament is the recognition of a valid and prestigious project – the words of Councilor Biancareddu – which gives prestige to the whole island. Credit to those who commit themselves every year to the success of this important international youth football event which acts as a showcase for our entire territory, especially Gallura. In this 26th edition for me there is an additional reason for pride, because the final will be hosted right in Tempio, my city, where over the years it has been possible to invest in sports facilities that are today a flagship. Added to this is the social aspect. Also this year the SOCIAL GOAL Tournament will take place, which had so much echo in the first edition. Messages of peace that come from children playing together, be they Israelis and Palestinians or Ukrainians, represent the most significant and strongest example to send to adults, and it is a message that comes from Gallura”.

This was followed by thanksgiving to the mayors and councilors of the municipalities hosting the event, recognizing the Tournament as an important moment for enhancing the territory.

GROUPS. The groups that make up the starting grid of the competition were revealed to the delegations of all the teams.

Professional teams, Italian and foreign, and amateur formations from all over the island and from all over Italy, will have the opportunity to challenge each other on the field without limitations due to the football weight of their realities of origin.

As every year, the usual parade of the jerseys of the participating professional teams took place:

FC Juventus – B.C. Atalanta – C.F.C. Genoa – A.C. Milan – F.C. Turin – Cagliari Calcio – A.S. Rome – F.C. Internazionale Milano – Olbia Calcio 1905 – SC Pisa – Torres – Espanyol de Barcelona (Spain), Crystal Palace (England) – F.C. Malmoe (Sweden) – F.C. Paris Saint Germain (France) – P.F.C Ludogorets (Bulgaria) – CSKA Sofia (Bulgaria).

The top clubs will be challenged by 23 amateur teams from Campania, Lazio, Piedmont, Lombardy, Sardinia, Liguria, Tuscany, Puglia:

Levante Azzurro Bari – Ogliastra Academy – Nuova Tor Tre Teste Rome – Vigor Perconti Rome – Grifone Calcio Rome – Arzachena Academy Costa Smeralda – Blue Devils Naples – Vado Ligure – Lascaris Turin – Chisola Calcio Turin – Urbetevere Rome – Tau Calcio Altopascio – A.S.D. Pirri – Cosmo Sassari – Sestu Calcio – Fp14 Quartu Sant’Elena – Sassari Calcio Sweet Milk – Gigi Riva Cagliari – F6 Academy Salerno – G.S. San Paolo Sassari – Pol. Porto Rotondo – Romulea Rome – Varesina Calcio.

SPONSOR. The Main Sponsor is the prestigious French company Le Coq Sportif, a historic sportswear brand known throughout the world which, for years now, has been linked to the football festival.

CUP. Cerasarda, the Sardinian company world leader in the ceramics sector, has once again signed the prestigious Trophy. An extraordinary unique piece, of great value, which will end up on the winning team’s bulletin board.

VIDEO SPOT. For this edition, the slogan “Big dreams never fall” was chosen and with this spirit, the Osilise director Giovanni Loriga made a small film that between action and final suspense gave the mood of trepidation and emotion that anticipates every year the start of the event.

THE AWARDS. During the morning, awards were given to personalities from the world of sport who distinguished themselves last season.

It will be the first edition without Salvatore Marroni, president of Budoni football and historical collaborator of the tournament who passed away this year. The youth sector manager award was dedicated to him:

· “GIUSEPPE PINNA” award for television sports journalist of the year

Giulia Mizzoni – Amazon Prime

Press Sports Journalist of the Year Award

Maurizio Crosetti – Republic

Women’s Team Coach of the Year Award

Alessandro Spugna – AS Roma

· “Mario Ruzzu” Amateur Team of the Year Award

Tau Football Altopascio

· “Paolo Tassu” Professional Manager of the Year Award

Gaetano Consalvo – Genoa CFC

· “Salvatore Marroni” Youth Sector Manager of the Year Award

Vincenzo Vergine – AS Roma

· Lifetime Achievement Award

Javier Zanetti – Inter

Great emotion for the presence of Javier Zanetti who, receiving the award, recalled his beginnings and the importance of confrontation from a young age to grow and train as men and as athletes: “I have had a great opportunity in life and tournaments like this they bring me back as a child – Zanetti’s words. I tell the children who play not to stop dreaming and to always put a lot of passion into it. Defeats are important because to win you need to know how to lose and they helped me to be resilient. The first thought when I close my eyes is the night in Madrid because we have fulfilled a dream. Lifting the Champions League trophy was a great emotion.”

The award to Alessandro Spugna was also an opportunity to talk about women’s football. In fact, a women’s team from Cagliari will be present at the Selis Social Goal.