News
MAR 26.12.2017
'Tis the season to be jolly and dream… especially now that the LaLiga Promises International Tournament is back upon us again. This event has become a classic fixture in the Christmas calendar and embodies better than any other the values of camaraderie, sportsmanship and friendship.
The Tenerife town of Arona is once again the setting for this, the 22nd instalment of the competition, which was launched on Tuesday with a ceremony that was attended by the players from the 14 participating teams. There were also two very special guests in the shape of former Spanish national team coach Vicente del Bosque and the singer Jose Merce. The man who led Spain to glory at the 2014 World Cup in South Africa said that a bright future beckons for the young participants and talked up the power of the beautiful game: "You're in the best period of your lives and I hope you make the most of it. This tournament gives you the opportunity to enjoy playing football, a sport that has been the making of many people. Don't waste the tools it offers you."
The mayor of Arona, Jose Julian Mena, underlined the importance of the tournament coming back to the town for another year. These words were echoed by Carlos Alonso, the president of the Cabildo de Tenerife (Tenerife Island Council), who was also present at the ceremony. "I'd like to thank LaLiga, who have been wonderful since getting involved with this tournament. Their promotional efforts ensure that LaLiga Promises will keep going to a long while yet, and they have shown huge faith in us," commented Carlos Alonso.
Jose Ramon de la Morena, the president of the foundation that bears his name who has organised this tournament with resounding success since its inception in December 1996, offered words of advice to the participants: "Just enjoy yourselves, and who knows, you could become the next Andres Iniesta or Fernando Torres. In any case, you can be sure that over the course of these three days you'll get to experience life as a real footballer, so enjoy it. You'll look back on this tournament as if it were a Christmas fairytale."
Eight Spanish clubs, FC Barcelona, Villarreal CF, D. Alaves, Atletico Madrid, Sevilla FC, RCD Espanyol, Real Madrid and Valencia CF, and five other clubs from across Europe, AS Roma, Paris Saint-Germain FC, Juventus, Borussia Dortmund and Inter Milan, as well as Japan's JEF United will all be aiming to leave Arona victorious. In addition to the aforementioned sides, two Canary Islands representatives, CD Tenerife and UD Las Palmas, will take part as special guests in a Consolation Tournament, a new feature of this edition of LaLiga Promises.
The 22nd edition of the LaLiga Promises tournament kicks off this Wednesday morning, and 14 teams will be looking to follow in the footsteps of FC Barcelona, who won this prestigious international tournament this time last year in Puerto de la Cruz.
© LALIGA - 2017