The Toyota League Cup was recently launched in Bangkok. The competition will involve over 100
teams, with Division 2 sides getting things underway by battling it out for 32 qualification places
into the first round proper. All 32 TPL and Division 1 teams will join the competition at the first
round stage to complete the line-up of 64 sides.
State Cup began this past weekend although the weather in St Louis didn't
cooperate. As I understand it, the games on Saturday were moved to Sunday, pushing everything else
out another week. Missouri Youth Soccer has not posted any scores (fees apparently don't include
communication efforts beyond the basics).
The FIFA Club World Cup final on Sunday sees European champions Internazionale of Milan face up
to their history-making African counterparts TP Mazembe from the Congolese second city of
Lubumbashi. Since coming under outright official FIFA control in 2005, the Club World Cup includes
all of the seven continental champions fighting it out to become officially the world's best club
side.
Time to begin planning now for the Toyota Cup competition, the 'other' tournament hosted by
Missouri Youth Soccer Association in June. For teams and clubs not interested in the 'win or go
home' model that State Cup offers, the Toyota Cup offers a more traditional model.
Registration is open until April 30 for this tournament, which will be held at the Lake Country
Soccer complex June 6-11, 2008.
