Busy SPORTMASTER-Tent

Busy SPORTMASTER-Tent

During the Dana Cup tournament the SPORTMASTER-tent has been very busy. Among other things, it is due to the fact that many players would like name and number on their shirts.

’Naturally, the participants can also get name and number on the official shirts of their favourite football clubs,’ Kasper Hansen from SPORTMASTER emphasises. Name costs 80 kr while it costs 30 kr for each number. The SPORTMASTER-tent is open on Friday 9-22 and on Saturday 9-14.

U.S. Virgin Islands Competes at the Dana Cup

For the second year running the Virgin Islands American Youth Soccer Organisation (VIAYSO) U19 soccer team participates in Dana Cup. What is more, earlier in the spring the St. Croix AYSO hosted The St. Croix International Centennial Soccer Tournament, where teams from the V.I. and Denmark played a number of friendlies. The team is very happy to take part in the Dana Cup, because they like being exposed to the game at the next level.

’We come from an island where we only have four men’s teams and, thus, the boys’ exposure to the game is very limited. With only four teams they have a high school season with only 9 games. And for us to come here and play without being outplayed by anybody is an accomplishment in itself ’ says coach Yohannes Worede and adds that it is good to know that they can put up a fight. This afternoon, the team from St. Croix lost 1-2 to Norwegian Odds BK, despite a brave fight.

U.S. Parents on European Tour

U.S. Parents on European Tour

This year a large group of parents from North Carolina, USA, have chosen to come along with their 34 Lake Norman Soccer Club players and two coaches to the club’s 4th Dana Cup. Before arriving at Dana Cup, the group travelled to Iceland to compete in friendlies against local teams. At the same time, they tried to take in Iceland by visiting Gulfoss Waterfall and enjoying the Blue Lagoon. The parents like this combination of football games and sightseeing.

‘ Our club has been coming here for a few years. It is a great experience for us. It allows our kids to see competition from around the world and as a parent it is great to be able to see a very family friendly soccer environment with teams from multiple countries and to have a little holiday. Moreover, we get a chance to bond with our team and club to create community feeling and, at the same time, we get to see our kids play against other competition,’ Cedric Coco says.

Moreover, Cedric Coco is very impressed by the camaraderie at Dana Cup because it is like a miniature World Cup and, additionally, he thinks that Dana Cup and the city of Hjørring have created that unbelievable atmosphere.

Felm SV supports Germany

Felm SV supports Germany

In these days dramas do not only unfold on the about 60 fields at the Dana Cup, where all is about making it to the final; however, the quarterfinals are also about to start at the UEFA Women's Euro 2017 in the Netherlands.

As group winner Germany will meet Denmark on Saturday at 8.45 pm and, actually, you will have the chance to see four of Fortuna Hjørring’s players. Also the G19-team Felm SV from Germany, who participates in Dana Cup for the second time, is hoping for goals.

‘The spirit at Dana Cup is super and the weather seems to behave,’ the players say.

Moreover, in reply to the question, which team is going to win on Saturday, Felm SV team leader says:

‘Germany definitely! Fingers crossed! But it’s really impressive that four players from Fortuna Hjørring are on the national team, so we will also keep our fingers crossed a bit for them. Especially, since the population in Denmark and also Hjørring is quite small, it is quite impressive.’

Russians Encountered Resistance

Russians Encountered Resistance

Russia is the biggest country in the world. In 17,1 million square kilometres around 145 million people live. 5,8 million Russians play football and about 20 of them take part in Dana Cup for the first time. This year the football club Panther was the sole representative of Russia and, still, it was a team from small Denmark that ended the Russian girls’ participation in class G14.

With 6-0, 1-0 and 5-0 wins in the group stage, Panther played Danish Sundby; however, the skilled Danish team was too strong for the Russians.

The Danes quickly took control of the match and, as a consequence, the Danish team won 4-1.

Amma FC Brings Girls Together

Amma FC Brings Girls Together

Amma FC is a football club situated in the northeastern part of India. But Amma FC, which participates in Dana Cup for the second time, is not just a local or regional club with local players. When Amma FC participates in class G17 the opponents will play schoolgirls from all over India.

‘Prior to Dana Cup we organise a tournament, where we gather the best players from all over the country and, then, we pick the best,’ explains Mrs Poonan Rawat, who coaches the girls together with Mr Juan.

‘Dana Cup is a great experience for the girls and, as a matter of fact, five to seven of them also participated last year. The girls come from good families and pay for most of the trip themselves. Indian girls’ football is growing but, unfortunately, does not attract many sponsors,’ Poonan Rawat adds. By taking part in Dana Cup Amma FC helps promoting Indian girls’ football.

‘But, in general, football is not a major sport in India. On the other hand, cricket, tennis and badminton are very popular,’ she clarifies.

Laundry Open 24 Hours a Day

Laundry Open 24 Hours a Day

With rain and wet football pitches, the need for clean sports clothing grows. But do not despair.

‘Our laundry is open 24 hours a day. We have seven washing machines and, for instance, we wash the clothes of the staff in Dana Cup’s kitchen, but we’ll happily wash the clothes of players, referees and coaches,’ they say at Dana Cup’s laundry, which is situated in Dana Cup Town next to the two artificial grass pitches.

It costs 100 kr. to have one’s shirt, shorts and socks washed and 150 kr. for a tracksuit.

‘We never say no and if more rain means more work, we simply ask for more time telling the customers to return in four hours or when the washing is done,’ they say.

Each Hour 65 Teams Leave the Tournament

Each Hour 65 Teams Leave the Tournament

Many teams dream of winning the trophy on Friday or on Saturday. However, only the dream of a few teams comes true.

’At the moment, there are football games on 65 pitches and, consequently, each hour 65 teams leave the tournament,’ tournament planner Ole Vagn Bruun says.

The first A-finals are played in Nord Energi Arena Friday afternoon. The last final is played Saturday night.

Tucuman Participating for the First Time

Previously, teams from Argentina have participated in Dana Cup but, although, Argentina is known for great players like Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi, players with Argentinian passports have not been present in huge numbers at the tournament in Hjørring. But perhaps things will change.

‘For several years, we have wanted more teams from Argentina at Dana Cup, so we are very satisfied that we can welcome Tucuman this year. We have known Tucuman for many years and we are happy that the club has chosen to be part of the tournament this year,’ head of the Dana Cup, Jette Andersen, emphasises.

Tucuman participates in class B12 and, on Monday, the players lit the flame in the centre of Hjørring, thereby, opening the 36th edition of the world’s third largest football tournament for youth. Then the mayor of Hjørring welcomed the club at the town hall.

Fortuna Hjørring’s New Football Shirts Well-liked

Fortuna Hjørring’s New Football Shirts Well-liked

In connection with Fortuna Hjørring’s new sponsor agreement with New Balance the players in Fortuna wear new sports clothes by New Balance. For instance, there is a new logo on the football shirts. The shirts, which can be bought in the SPORTMASTER-tent in the Event Area, are in high demand at Dana Cup. However, not only the participants at Dana Cup like the shirts, so do Fortuna’s own players.

‘The shirt is different from the one we had before. For instance, it has another green colour. Moreover, I like the new look with stripes, as many might know from Celtic FC. I think that’s cool. In addition, it makes us a little bit different compared to the other teams, whose shirts are all plain. So I think that we look fine,’ says Danish national player Karoline Smidt Nielsen from Fortuna Hjørring.

The American Connection at Dana Cup

The American Connection at Dana Cup

Sven Erik Jensen is not the only one sending American football teams to Dana Cup. Nevertheless, it is not wrong to look upon the former schoolteacher as the American connection at the Dana Cup. In fact, since 1984 he has been a tour operator for up to 800 teams from the USA.

‘As a coach for a football team in Vodskov, Denmark, we were once visited by a team from the USA. The Americans expressed their desire to take part in a tournament and knowing that Dana Cup had started two years previously, I made the connection across the Atlantic and then things quickly progressed. Already in 1986 I retired as a schoolteacher to open my own travel agency, Sport International, providing football trips from the USA to Europe, in particular to Denmark, Sweden and Norway,’ explains Sven Erik Jensen, who received the new Dana Cup Honour Award for his great work promoting the tournament.

’In the beginning, I travelled with the management of Dana Cup to South Africa, the USA, Australia and South Africa to promote Dana Cup. Today I’m an agent for Dana Cup enabling me to made agreements around the world on behalf of Dana Cup,’ explains Sven Erik Jensen, who also sends teams from other countries such as Arab countries and Spain, for instance.

‘Not least the Americans are very happy to visit Dana Cup, because they experience an amazingly well-organized tournament, where everything works and from where they travel home with more than just a football experience. In connection with the visit to Dana Cup we usually combine it with experiences in Denmark, plus many also take part in Gothia Cup and/or Norway Cup, for instance. This year several teams have taken part in a training camp at Dana Cup Sportscenter and some of them have already booked a stay in week 28 next year,’ smiles Sven Erik, who has sent 6 teams to Dana Cup this year.