THE 2016 Joeys Mini World Cup kicked-off this week with Armidale playing as Portugal in Inverell.
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Now in its fifth year, the competition gives young footballers around the globe a chance to build their skills and make life-long friends.
The event is based on a youth tournament that was held by the German Football Federation in 2006 during the FIFA World Cup in Germany.
Armidale held up a strong defence sitting in fourth position for most of the week with an overall score of 16 points.
Leading the score boards was Germany’s under 15s team who have remained undefeated throughout the entire week, according to the event founder Heinrich Haussler.
“The German team are undefeated and they have not considered one goal… that has never happened before,” he said.
Players from New Zealand also made the trip over to compete in the week-long competition with players from the Waikato and Bay of Plenty regions of the North Island.
New Zealand team manager Warren Jones said the event is a great experience for the kids who have fallen in love with the New England.
“We have made many friends from our visits and it is always great to see them,” he said.
“The support staff are dedicated to the event and always make us welcome, along with the referees and players.”
On the sideline, local performers and bands from Brisbane are gearing-up to entertain the community on Saturday night at a concert to wrap-up the week-long event.
Musical Director Eloise Collins said she is proud of all the contributors who are working hard to give a stellar performance.
“The dancers have been getting together probably three times a week and we’ve got the band and choir who have been getting together once a week,” she said.
The tournament has also been an opportunity for soccer stars from disability organisations to get involved.
Children and adults from Brighter Access, Connections and Glen Industries look forward to the event all year, according to Brighter Access coordinator Abby Hooker.
“These guys hangout all year for this competition so for them to be able to play is fantastic,” she said.
“They all get to come in and play in the World Cup like everyone else does which is really cool.
“It’s the biggest competition that these guys have had.
Ms Hooker said the disability competition looks set to grow in the coming years.
“We’ve had interest from Armidale and other centres in the region to start bringing their teams across.”