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SABA teams set for tournament spotlight

By James Shaw, 09/15/21, 4:45AM MDT

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Click here to register for the 7 Elite Academy International Tournament


The 7 Elite Academy International Tournament will be an opportunity for players of all ages to put themselves in the college recruitment spotlight.

The prestigious youth soccer event, which in 2021 attracted a record 200 teams to Southern Utah, takes place in St George and Mesquite on February 3rd to 5th next year.

Players from the UK and Tanzania will have the opportunity to take part in 2022, after a team from Liverpool stole the show by winning their bracket two years ago.

The international nature of the tournament has attracted interest from college recruiters based in Utah and beyond, as they cast an eye over the brightest talent.

Wayne Scholes, Chairman of 7 Elite Academy, is looking forward to giving even more young people a chance to be seen by college staff.

He said: “Our academy is dedicated to creating an environment that nurtures young talent in soccer, but also with a keen eye on their future prospects.

“Our SABA program, for example, gives players the opportunity to play in college showcases across the United States and Europe, alongside college application support.

“Those links mean recruiters will be hugely interested in watching players at our tournament and creating vital contacts for applications.

“We have already been contacted by a number of colleges who want to attend our 2022 event, especially with the tournament being open to international teams.

“Team numbers are set to break the 200 barrier, so we are predicting a rush of interest from recruiters over the coming weeks and months.”

The 2021 tournament was hailed as the best yet, as new competition and entertainment options broke the mold for youth soccer events in Southern Utah.

That progress will continue ahead of next year, as tournament bosses seek to expand the range of options on offer for players and their families.

“We want our 2022 tournament to be a destination event for teams, coaches and everyone else involved,” Scholes added.

“That means bringing in entertainment that will continue throughout all three days and keep people watching fantastic, competitive youth soccer.

“We also want to offer food options for all tastes and diets, that will reflect the truly international nature of our tournament.

“As an academy, we have some exciting developments in the pipeline for this year, especially in Southern Utah, that will put our state well and truly on the map for youth soccer.”