Apia Leichhardt Tigers Youth squad for the ninth consecutive year will fly out of Sydney with Singapore Airlines on Saturday February 12th bound for Italy to compete in the World's most prestigious annual Under 19s Club Tournament at Viareggio, based in the Tuscany region of Italy.

Viareggio is the 'Riviera' region of Italy, wedged on the Northern shores of the Tyrrhenian Sea, 25 miles west of Pisa.
This prestigious Youth Cup was first established back in 1949 where 16 crack European Youth Club sides battled out for a spot in the Final. The 1949 Final saw Italian giants Milan defeat Lazio.
Last Friday night, (Sydney time), the Italian Tournament officials made the official draw which saw Apia Leichhardt Tigers bracketted in Group 4 alongside Italian giants Inter Milan, the Select Viareggio XI and a Select Serie D XI.
The 'Viareggio Carnavale Tournament' has launched the playing careers of numerous International stars.
Since 1949, the Viareggio Cup Tournament has rapidly expanded from a 16 Club team competition to now embrace no less than 48 teams from across the World, split over 12 Groups.
The 2011 Viareggio Cup Tournament will have entered squads from no less than 16 nations:
Australia-(Apia L.T.)-2 from Africa, Belgium, Brasil, the Czech Republic, Denmark, England-(Newcastle United), Italy, Japan-(first time), Norway, Paraguay, Russia (first time), Serbia, Switzerland, the United States and Uzbekistan-(first time).
The Cup Tournament kicks off on February 21st with the Final scheduled for March 7th.
Ultimate Viareggio Cup Tournament Champions last year was 'the old Lady' ,Juventus, who crushed Empoli 4-2 in the Final.
As traditionally has been the case every year, Italian Youth Club teams will heavily dominate the 48 team competition with Youth squads, viz: from Atalanta, Empoli, Fiorentina, Genoa, Inter Milan, current Champions Juventus, Lazio, Lecce, Milan, Napoli, Palermo, Parma, Reggina, Roma, Sampdoria , Siena, Torino plus some regional Rep: sides.
Apia's industrious Chairman, Mr Tony Raciti, who will fill the dual role of Team Coach, (with Emanuele Ziino as Team Manager), stated last night:
"I'm extremely proud that this will be Apia Leichhardt Tigers' ninth consecutive year that our Club has been invited to compete in this global, historically-famous, Club Youth Tournament".
Mr Raciti elaborated: "Our players will gain invaluable and vast knowledge whilst on this tour and return to Australia far better educated as players.
"They will gain a much stronger, burning degree of desire, to lift their very own game quality".
The tour to Viareggio simultaneously incorporates a cultural exposure to some of the history and traditions of Italy.
Upon arrival in Rome, (Sunday February 13th), in rapid succession, the Youth squad is escorted from Rome Airport to the 'Fontana di Trevi'- (Trevi Fountain), the Spanish Steps, and then it's off to witness the ancient, mega-structured Colosseum. Then it's off to see Pope Benedict in the spectacular, spacious courtyard in front of the Vatican, which proceeds a tour inside the actual Vatican.
Following the Vatican visit it's off to the giant Rome Olympic Stadium, constructed for the 1960 Olympics.
Late Sunday afternoon, the squad will board their team coach for the five hour journey north, to the coastal town of Viareggio in the Tuscanny region of Italy, which the team will call 'home' for the next two weeks.
In between some arranged warm-ups matches on their off-days, the Apia Youth squad will make two flash one-day visits to witness one of the Seven original Wonders Of The World, the incredible 900 year old plus Leaning Tower of Pisa.
A second day-visit will be to the magnificent, historic, picturesque and romantic City of Florence.
Surely Florence must be one of the most amazingly beautiful Cities in the World. Florence is the birthplace of historically famous mega-artists, (both left-handers), Leonardo Di Vinci and Michelangelo.
The Apia Youth squad is expected to fly back into Sydney, Monday morning, February 28th.

-By John Economos

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