SOUTH AFRICA: FOOTBALL/SOCCER: Manchester City executive chairman Garry Cook says that their big spending is a good investment for the future of the club

Record ID: 455538

  • Title: SOUTH AFRICA: FOOTBALL/SOCCER: Manchester City executive chairman Garry Cook says that their big spending is a good investment for the future of the club
  • Date: 18th July 2009
  • Summary: JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA (JUL 17, 2009) (REUTERS) WIDE OF CONFERENCE MEDIA SEATED AND LISTENING AND CAMERAMEN TAKING PICTURES (SOUNDBITE) (English) MANCHESTER CITY EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN GARRY COOK, SAYING: "The quality of players that we're bringing to the club is showing the intent of our owners and our ambition continues to reach new heights. When you start to develop that attention, start to develop a fan base around the world. Last year we had 15 million visitors to our website. We've just launched a new website which is still breaking all those records and I think what this event does for us is it enables us to reach out to those fans and reach out to new communities." NEW SIGNING GARETH BARRY LISTENING (SOUNDBITE) (English) MANCHESTER CITY EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN GARRY COOK, SAYING: "This is really not about spending. I just want to make sure the message is clear, we're investing in the future of the football club. The investments that we're making currently will define the football club for the next ten years and I think when you do that, to compete with the top four in the Premier League, you have to invest for you to reach those new levels. "The players that we're looking to invest further in, they're well documented, I think it would be unfair for me to comment on them with respect to the clubs that they're at and the players themselves. It stops when Mark (Hughes) feels that he's got the right quality of players in his squad. Definitely we are limited by the virtue of a window opportunity to find those players, so I think the players that we've acquired will add strength to the squad and that's the ambition." MORE OF MEDIA SEATED (SOUNDBITE) (English) MANCHESTER CITY MIDFIELDER GARETH BARRY, SAYING: "I think, firstly, all the players are delighted to be here in South Africa. Firstly, we've just come back from holiday and we're mainly focusing on fitness over here and we see these two games against big clubs over here as building up towards the start of the Premier League. We understand that football is very high over here, so we'll be having big tests and I should say building towards the start of our own league. But, in terms of England, we've obviously started our campaign very well and I think we're not too far away from qualification now. So, fingers crossed, I will be here with England colleagues in a year's time." WIDE OF PRESS CONFERENCE
  • Embargoed: 2nd August 2009 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: South Africa
  • Country: South Africa
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA1CBW585C6Z2UREKYUGWWTKWDM
  • Story Text: Manchester City executive chairman Garry Cook told a news conference on Friday (July 17) that he sees their big spending as a good investment for the future of the club.
    Manchester City, who are on tour in South Africa ahead of the start of the English Premier League, will be going up against two top South African clubs, Orlando Pirates and Kaiser Chiefs in the Vodacom Challenge which begins on Saturday.
    "The quality of players that we're bringing to the club is showing the intent of our owners and our ambition continues to reach new heights," said Cook.
    "We're investing in the future of the football club. The investments that we're making currently will define the football club for the next ten years and I think when you do that, to compete with the top four in the Premier League, you have to invest for you to reach those new levels."
    Manchester City had previously announced that they'd be bringing a full strength squad to South Africa. Brazilian nationals Robinho and Elano will, however, not be participating in the opening match as they will only be available for the final game in the Vodacom Challenge, but the club's latest high profile signing Carlos Tevez will be playing in the opening match against Orlando Pirates on Saturday.
    City midfielder Gareth Barry expressed excitement at the opportunity to compete in South Africa.
    "I think, firstly, all the players are delighted to be here in South Africa," he said, " We see these two games against big clubs over here as building up towards the start of the Premier League."
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register