Pepsi, Frito Lay, Gatorade, & Ralphs Supermarkets Soccer Youth Cup 2006.

Pepsi, Frito Lay, Gatorade, and Ralphs Supermarket are launching a youth soccer tournament very much awaited by Southern California, “Copa Mexico”. This will benefit the young players in Los Angeles, Orange County, San Bernardino/Riverside, San Fernando Valley, Bakersfield and San Diego in Southern California, Fresno, Sacramento, and San Jose in North California.

Copa Mexico will last for more than five months starting on March 4th and ending in August 2006 and will include several activities such as the All Stars Tournament, Champions of the Champions (Little World Cup), Inter-Leagues Tournament, culminating with the Tournament to Collect Toy (Toys for Soccer Foundation) in divisions of 6 through 16 years of age.

“Copa México will allow young soccer players the opportunity to show their soccer skills in a very family oriented environment. It is more than just a simple soccer tournament”, commented Mr. Victor M. Oropeza, Urban Marketing Manager, Pepsi Cola North America Multicultural Marketing West Region. “Copa México 2006 is a sports tournament in which we want to promote our youth to be star soccer players at a more professional level, while maintaining our children out of the streets and away from drugs and gangs to develop their sportsmanship spirit as well as educational interest.”

“We thank our sponsors for their valuable support to this popular sport in our community. We are sure that this Second Cup will have an astounding success since it will offer more activities to all participants and will give more benefits to other cities. We have confidence on the leagues that are willing to collaborate with our youth and our community.” Shared Mr. Rafael O. González, Director of La Copa México 2006.

“At this time we are very proud of being able to unite in a single tournament more than 25 independent leagues in different cities in Southern California (Los Angeles, Orange County, Inland Empire, and San Diego). In Northern California (Fresno, Sacramento, and San Jose)” continued Mr. Rafael O. Gonzalez.

“It is a pleasure for 1020AM and Hablando de Deportes to be part of Copa Mexico, an event that continues growing and has met its objectives. Working with children requires a lot of effort and even more when you are organizing soccer tournaments, but Copa Mexico has been able to achieve this and provide continuity to this excellent program that provides our children with healthy activities to benefit our community. Congratulations to Copa Mexico for this great effort, 1020AM and Hablando de Deportes will continue supporting this event that is not a project any more, it is reality”, said Hipolito Gamboa, Director of Deportes 1020AM in Univision Radio, Los Angeles.

At the Awards Dinner, educational scholarships will be awarded to 30 players that have kept a high educational level and have been a positive example at home and on the field. Copa México was created with the thought and intention of keeping families together in a sport and family environment, while supporting education.