USA: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - Manchester United players attempt to raise one million dollars at a charity event in New York City

Record ID: 336264

  • Title: USA: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - Manchester United players attempt to raise one million dollars at a charity event in New York City
  • Date: 23rd July 2010
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (English) ALEX FERGUSON, MANAGER OF MANCHESTER UNITED, SAYING "We are okay. We have done okay. We are playing all the young players and we are getting to know about their capabilities With our young players at our club we have to give them a challenge a bit.. where the real ambition is. With young players who got that thing inside them, can do very well at our
  • Embargoed: 7th August 2010 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Usa
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: Light / Amusing / Unusual / Quirky,Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVAAS7MYLYSK90ENG4GOD9ANOIS2
  • Story Text: Stars of famed British soccer club "Manchester United" took a shot at raising one million dollars (USD) for UNICEF at a football kicking accuracy event on Thursday (July 22). The "Hublot Million Dollar Challenge" event, which took place in front of the Flatiron building in New York City, was organized by the Swiss watchmaker and team's partner, "Hublot." It promised to write UNICEF a check of one million dollars for each ball hitting the bullseye.
    Players Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs, Darren Fletcher and Edwin van der Sar all took a shot at the tiny hole of a target masked as a giant watch at the end of 51 feet long arena.
    Even the team's manager, Sir Alex Ferguson made an attempt, but all failed. The player hitting the target the closest was goalkeeper van der Sar. He explained that Manchester United participates in different fund raising events.
    "UNICEF is the charity that we are supporting representing the club (Manchester United). We do this a lot," van der Sar told Reuters. "Twice a year we have a charity night, with food where all the players are present. A lot of fans come to the events. A few of the players went to (charity) projects in Africa. So this was an attempt to make money for UNICEF in a good way, but unfortunately we missed it by a hair," he said.
    Nevertheless, Hublot promised to write UNICEF a check regardless of the outcome. Jean-Claude Biver, CEO of Hublot wrote a check of 110,008 dollars (USD) after the event. He said that hundred thousand dollars were coming from Hublot and ten thousand dollars (USD) from himself. The last eight dollars (USD) he wrote down because it is a lucky number to him.
    Manchester United is currently on a pre-season tour to the United States, Canada and Mexico. It is playing without some of its star players who were granted extra relief after the World Cup in South Africa. But according to Ferguson, the team is doing fine.
    "We are okay. We have done okay," Ferguson said. "We are playing all the young players and we are getting to know about their capabilities With our young players at our club we have to give them a challenge a bit.. where the real ambition is. With young players who got that thing inside them, can do very well at our club."
    Earlier this year the team reached agreements with defender Chris Smalling of Fulham and Mexican forward Javier Hernandez. The 22-year-old Hernandez made an impression at the World Cup, scoring twice for his national Mexican team. Organizer FIFA also announced him as the fastest player in South Africa, with a top speed of 19.97mph. He is expected to debut for Manchester United on August 16. Midfielder Fletcher said that Hernandez will prove to be an asset to the team.
    "He is a goal scorer. We have seen that in the World Cup. He has proved that wherever he plays he is a goal scorer. And Manchester United as a team likes to play attacking football and and create a lot of chances so I am sure he will fit right in. He is a young player, he is going to learn from being at Manchester United, but I think he has a big future and and definitely make an impact in the team," Fletcher said.
    Also present at the event was Ryan Giggs, who currently plays the midfield for the Red Devils. He has played his entire professional career at Manchester United. At age 36, Giggs is one of the oldest players in the British Premiere League. He said that he does not want to end his career in the United States, a move that seems to be popular among aging European soccer stars, including former Manchester United colleague David Beckham.
    "Obviously at the moment I am with Manchester United. I am quite happy with that, so no," Giggs said.
    Manchester United was the runner up in the British Premier League for the 2009-2010 season.
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