English Premier League side to face Fiorentina, Nice and Villarreal at St James’ Park
VisitMalta announced a partnership agreement with English Premier League club Newcastle United for the inaugural ‘Sela Cup, presented by VisitMalta’ tournament.
The pre-season football tournament will take place this summer at the home of the English Premier League side, the iconic St James’ Park, showcasing the captivating world of football.
Scheduled for August 5 and 6, the tournament will not only serve as part of Newcastle’s pre-season preparations but will also provide an exceptional football experience for fans.
During this tournament the Magpies led by Eddie Howe, will go head-to-head with Fiorentina, Nice and Villarreal over two consecutive days.
Adding to the spectacle, Newcastle United Women will participate in this weekend of football on Tyneside as they will face West Brom Women on August 5.
The event will mark the team’s return to St James’ Park after their triumphant victory in the FA Women’s National League Division One North in May, which also marked their transition into professional football.
The realisation of this tournament has been made possible through the support of VisitMalta, the event sponsor and Sela, Newcastle United’s new front-of-shirt partner.
The Sela Cup will adopt a thrilling format where teams will earn three points for a win, one point for a draw, and an additional point for every goal scored.
On Sunday, after the final match, the overall tournament winners will be presented with the coveted Sela Cup, presented by VisitMalta.
Newcastle United CEO Darren Eales expressed his enthusiasm for the tournament.
“There is huge excitement going into the 2023-24 season, so to be able to give our supporters two days of football involving both our men’s and women’s teams is something that everybody is looking forward to,” he said.
Eales extended his sincere appreciation to Sela and VisitMalta for their invaluable contributions to making this event possible, emphasizing their expertise in delivering top-class events and activations that will ensure an outstanding experience for all attendees.
Strong emotions
On his part, Malta Tourism Authority CEO Carlo Micallef said: “Holiday travel and football arouse strong beautiful emotions which we usually share with those closest to us, forgetting mundane life while we cheer on our favourite team or when away on holiday.
“VisitMalta is proud to continue its destination brand marketing activity in the football world, partnering with Sela for the tournament being played in Newcastle, an international tournament that brings together top teams from the UK, Italy, France and Spain, four core markets for tourism to the Maltese Islands.”
Clayton Bartolo, Malta’s Minister for Tourism, highlighted the significance of sports tourism in uniting individuals from diverse backgrounds.
“In an era where travel has become an essential part of our lives, sports tourism acts as a catalyst for growth, uniting individuals from diverse backgrounds through the universal language of sports,” he said.
