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AKARTA: Nike Indonesia launched Wednesday its fifth Manchester United Premier Cup, a soccer tournament for under-15 players nationwide.

On the global level, the Cup has been attracting at least 90,000 participants from 9,000 teams in 43 countries, including the UK, France, Brazil and Germany, since 1993.

“It is one of our efforts in developing soccer in Indonesia in cooperation with the Indonesian Soccer Association,” Nike Indonesia marketing manager Nino Priambodo told a press conference.

The event’s registration has been open since April 1 and will continue until April 15. The qualification rounds are scheduled to take place from April 16-30 in North Sumatra, West Sumatra, South Sumatra, Jakarta, Banten, West Java, Central Java, South Kalimantan and Papua.

“From 10 provinces across the country we will collect all the winners and have them compete in Jakarta on May 14 and 15. The winner of the Jakarta final match will be sent to Thailand for the Southeast Asia regional finals in July.

“In the end, all the best teams from around the world will be competing for the final bout in Old Trafford,” Nino said. In 2008, Indonesia’s Villa 2000 team made its way to Manchester United’s homebase.

Rudi Setiawan, one of the Villa players, said that playing in the Cup had given him a lot of experience in international soccer.

“The Cup is a promising place for young talents. Just be brave to have dreams,” said 18-year-old Rudi.

Besides Rudi, young Indonesian player Syamsul Alam, who currently plays for Penarol in Uruguay, also started his career at the 2007 Cup. — JP