Inter Milan & Celtic starlets ready for UAE bow

Stars of the past: Al Ain playmaker Omar Abdulrahman (right) played in the tournament.

The Al Ain International Football Youth Championship kicks off on Saturday with some of Europe's biggest clubs showcasing their bright young talent.

Inter Milan, Benfica and Celtic join hosts Al Ain in the tournament's sixth edition which also features Dinamo Zagreb and Kashiwa Reysol.

Al Ain will open proceedings on Saturday when they take on Inter Milan in Group A at the Khalifa bin Zayed Stadium (kick-off 5.55pm). That game is then followed by the opening clash in Group B as Benfica meet Dinamo.

Sunday's line-up sees Scottish champions Celtic get their first taste of action when they take on Croatia's Dinamo while Al Ain take on their Japanese counterparts Kashiwa.

After a rest day the final group games will take place on Tuesday - Kashiwa vs. Inter and Benfica meeting Celtic - before the top two from each group qualify for the semi-finals to be played on Thursday.

Saturday will see the losing semi-finalists battle for the third place spot before the final to crown the 2013 champions take place at 7pm.

All the action from the Garden City, including the opening ceremony, will be screened live on Abu Dhabi Sports.

However Al Ain's sports manager, Khalifa Suleiman, is hopeful that the competition will attract healthy crowds through the turnstiles.

"I hope to see bigger number of spectators in matches to enhance the championship success and not to only support Al Ain team, because the championship shows the pioneering image of our lovely country in successful organization of such international events," he said.

The tournament has continued to grow in popularity and stature since its inception in 2008 when the Senegalese football academy took the title.

SCHEDULE

Saturday, April 6
Opening ceremony - 4.30pm
Al Ain v Inter Milan (Group A) - 5.55pm
Benfica v Dinamo Zagreb (Group B) - 8.20pm

Sunday, April 7
Al Ain v Kashiwa Reysol (Group A) - 4.55pm
Dinamo Zagreb v Celtic (Group B) - 7pm

Tuesday, April 9
Kashiwa Reysol v Inter Milan (Group A) - 4.55pm
Benfica v Celtic (Group B) - 7pm

Thursday, April 11
Runners-up (Group A) v Winners (Group B) - 4.55pm
Winners (Group A) v Runners-up (Group B) - 7pm

Saturday, April 13
Third place playoff - 4.55pm
Final - 7pm

http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/2bundesliga/startseite/584141/artikel_aues-kampf-um-sylvestr.html

Ovdje se spominje da bi ovi kupili Sylvestra za pola milijuna. 26 utakmica 6 golova i 5 asistencija do sada.