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Sousa rewards skills quartet

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A London school had stars in their eyes when Portuguese legend Paulo Sousa handed over the keys to a Ford minibus as they were presented with their prize for displaying their skills to win the Ford Team Challenge.

Paulo Sousa shows off his skills at Bacon's College
Paulo Sousa shows off his skills at Bacon's College ©UEFA.com

A London school had stars in their eyes when Portuguese legend Paulo Sousa handed over the keys to a brand new Ford minibus which they received for displaying one minute of magical skills to win UEFA's grassroots competition, the Ford Team Challenge.

Creative skills
The idea behind the first competition, which was run on the UEFA Training Ground between April and December 2008, was for schools and clubs throughout Europe to film and submit one minute of their most creative skills using at least three players. With over 250 entries it was Bacon's College, coached by former Soviet Union international Sergei Baltacha, who were adjudged the best. Their prize was the Ford minibus, a complete adidas kit for their entire team and a chance to meet Sousa, a UEFA Champions League winner with Juventus in 1996 and with BV Borussia Dortmund the following year.

'Great opportunity'

"Skills should be encouraged within the grassroots game and the Ford Team Challenge is a great opportunity for young players and coaches to develop their creativity," said Sousa, who was in attendance as a UEFA Grassroots Ambassador. "It's a very simple concept. Kids can just go into their back garden with a ball and maybe win their team a beautiful minibus like the one we are here to present today. When I was a young boy I used to practise in my father's garage, so it can be very simple. This is why the Ford Team Challenge is such a great idea."

New edition
Sousa was also on hand to introduce a video encouraging entries for the second edition of the competition. Due to start later this month, it was apt that the first submissions came from the defending champions as Bacon's College got another chance to show off their skills and some new routines. They also presented the first ever Ford Team Challenge training drill – a new addition this year that allows coaches to show what they can do as well.