ZAMBIAN side Lusaka Academy almost missed their opening game of this year’s Dale Farm Milk Cup because of visa issues at a Danish airport.
The mix-up meant the African team spent Sunday night sleeping in Copenhagen airport before arriving Belfast, via Gatwick, at 3pm on Monday, just four hours before they played County Derry at Rugby Avenue in Coleraine.
Milk Cup spokesperson Jim Sandford explained: “We were made aware of the problem at 9pm on Sunday night. Lusaka had arrived in Copenhagen and had planned to fly to Dublin. But in Copenhagen, the authorities didn’t allow them to fly on to Dublin with their UK visa.
“I wrote a letter several months ago for teams to give to the British High Commission for them to issue visas. Lusaka flew into Belfast last year, so they weren’t aware the change of plans this year would be a problem. I spoke to someone in Copenhagen on Sunday night and asked about the Schengen Agreement, but that only applies to the EU and Denmark aren’t in it.
“Lusaka should have had a stamp on their visa to show permission to come through the Republic of Ireland.”
Unfortunately a night spent sleeping on the floor of Copenhagen airport seemed to take its toll of the African outfit, who lost 3-1 to the boys from Derry. With only 11 players in the country, the brave Zambians battled the torrential Coleraine rain, but succumbed to an impressive performance from Damien McNamee’s boys.
Elsewhere in the Premier Section, Andy Hunter’s County Antrim impressed the crowds at the Ballymena Showgrounds with a fine 3-0 win over American side Strikers. Star of last year’s Junior Antrim side Jack McCourt opened the scoring with a low shot from an acute angle. Thomas Roscoe added a second with an outrageous bit of individual skill. He skipped past the goalkeeper before rounding a defender and flicking the ball into the net. Roscoe complete the goalscoring by slotting home a team move from 10 yards.
In the Junior section, Liverpool got their Dale Farm Milk Cup campaign off to an impressive start by hitting County Tyrone for six at the Ballymena Showgrounds on Monday night. Glen McCauley bagged a brace, either side of an own goal before Curtis Jones’ double and Reece McGinley completed the 6-0 rout.
Scottish giants Rangers also impressed with an opening day win in the Junior Section over Sheffield United at the Coleraine Showgrounds. A solitary goal from Zak Rudden four minutes from time was enough to give Rangers a deserved victory in horrible conditions.
It was a good day for the local county sides. County Down got their Milk Cup campaign off to a flying start with a remarkable 4-0 victory in Clough over English Football League side Brentford. Down hammered the Bees 4-0, with Leo Brown hitting a brace. Alex McIlmail and Jack Chambers also found the back of net.
Ollie Mullan’s County Derry started with a 3-2 win over Californian side Orange County Blues at Roe Mill.
Stefan Seaton’s County Antrim reached last year’s final before losing to Corinthians. They started with a 3-0 win over North Dublin in Broughshane.
Armagh chalked up another win for the counties. They beat Swindon Town 3-1 at Anderson Park. Fermanagh weren’t so fortunate. Sam Gamble’s boys lost 6-1 to Roma USA at Parker Avenue in Portrush.
TUESDAY’S FIXTURES
Premier Section: CSKA Moscow v Lusaka Academy, 3.30pm, Clough; Vendee v Club America, 3.30pm, The Warren, Portstewart; O’Higgins v OC Blues, 3.30pm, Roe Mill, Limavady; Tyrone v Antrim, 5pm, Broughshane; Higashi Fukuoka v Strikers, 5pm, Castlerock; Down v Motherwell, 5pm, Rugby Avenue; Armagh v Alset, 5pm, Parker Avenue, Portrush; Otago Academy v Real Sociedad, 7pm, Scroggy Road, Limavady; Derry v Fermanagh, 7pm, Partick Thistle v Malaga, 7.30pm, Riada, Ballymoney; Newcastle United v Right To Dream, The Showgrounds, Ballymena; Junior Section: Antrim v Zacatepec, 12pm, Riada, Ballymoney; Brentford v Strikers, 12pm, Roe Mill, Limavady; Down v Donegal, 12pm, Anderson Park, Coleraine; Sydney United v AS Roma USA, 12pm, The Warren, Portstewart; Right To Dream v Swindon Town, 1.30pm, Brougshane; Sheffield United v Dundalk, 1.30pm, Castlerock; Plymouth Argyle v Colina, 1.30pm, Rugby Avenue, Coleraine; North Dublin v OC Blues, 1.30pm, Parker Avenue, Portrush; Southampton v Derry, 3.30pm, Anderson Park, Coleraine; Tyrone v Armagh, 3.30pm, Riada, Ballymoney; Fermanagh v Rangers, 5.30pm, The Showgrounds, Ballymena; Liverpool v GPS FC Bayern, 7.30pm, The Showgrounds, Coleraine
