Over a dozen youth footballers will enjoy a rare opportunity when DirecTV W Connection, celebrating its recent Youth Pro League Under-16 title win and its 15th anniversary, participates in a four-match tour in Italy where it will face a number of top youth teams of Serie A clubs.
Connection will face Inter Milan on September 2, a day before it faces Hellas Verona. The local club will then meet Udinese Calcio and AC Milan on September 5 and 7, respectively. The club is expected to arrive in Italy on August 28 and depart on September 8.
The opportunity was created by David John-Williams, President of DirecTV and Stefano Monti, the club's Youth Director, who is Italian.
According to the club, this is the first time that a local team, on any level, will have the opportunity to match their skills against the four Serie A teams.
"This is the 15th Year of Direct TV W Connection and I knew I wanted to do something special to celebrate. As the U16 team brought home the Youth Pro League Championship two games in advance, the seed was planted that the celebration would also have to honour their outstanding achievement of this year," said John-Williams in an announcement of the news.
"Of course it is a huge venture but is it is the investment that must be made in the future of football, not only in T&T, but in the region. I really hope that other great minds would rise to the occasion and assist us in this effort."
Monti, meanwhile, said the opportunity was exciting for the young footballers who would test their skills and character on another level.
"In order for the boys to reach another level, it is important for them to see how their skills match up to players at this kind of football level. I have to express my gratitude to my Italian friends who have made the tour possible- President of AC Milan Football School, Cimiano Calcio, Agostino Malavasi, Filippo Galli and Nereo Omero of AC Milan, Paolo Poggi and Simone Roia of Udinese Calcio, Alberto Celario and Roberto Samadem of Inter FC and Giancarlo Filippini of Hellas Verona."