Etihad Airways And City Football Group Set To Kick Off 2018 Manchester City Abu Dhabi Cup

With less than a week to go to until the Manchester City Abu Dhabi Cup kicks-off, Manchester City FC Academy Director Jason Wilcox is preparing to bring his young team to the UAE capital – where they will go head-to-head with teams from across the globe.

In addition to the Manchester side, Melbourne City FC will also be making their debut at the Manchester City Abu Dhabi Cup, thanks to support from Etihad Airways, and will be joined by teams from Sri Lanka, Kuwait and Oman as well as local sides such as Al Jazira.

Speaking about the tournament, Jason Wilcox said: “It is a priority for players to experience all aspects of the game and that’s why it is great for youth teams to travel and compete in different countries. For me, as the Academy Director, it is also good to witness the standard of football across the world to ensure we as a club are doing everything to ensure our players are learning and developing constantly.

“We can’t wait to arrive and experience Abu Dhabi and the Manchester City Abu Dhabi Cup for the first time.”

The event, supported by both the Abu Dhabi Department of Tourism and Culture and Etihad Airways, will see 96 teams compete across the weekend. The winners will get an unforgettable trip to the Etihad Campus in Manchester where they will train at the same facilities as star players such as Vincent Kompany, Sergio Aguero and Kevin de Bruyne. This will also include flights, accommodation and culture experiences.

Etihad Airways Executive Vice President Commercial, Mohammad Al Bulooki, said: “Etihad Airways is delighted to support youth development in the UAE and one of the ways we can do that is by supporting events like the Manchester City Abu Dhabi Cup with a fantastic once-in-a-lifetime training prize and air travel for teams travelling from far afield.”

The Manchester City Abu Dhabi Cup will take place from 9am on March 23 and 24 at Zayed Sports City. Entry is free and spectators are welcome to enjoy the ‘City Village’, which will include live entertainment, refreshments and activities for the whole family

For further information on the Manchester City Abu Dhabi Cup 2018 please visit:www.citycupabudhabi.com