Boyce backing Croatia to put on a show

After witnessing first hand the excellent organisation of the draw for the final tournament and the unbridled enthusiasm of the host nation, UEFA Youth and Amateur Football Committee first vice-chairman Jim Boyce is convinced the 6th UEFA Regions' Cup in Zagreb, Croatia is going to be a huge success.

Impressive organisation
"I was out making the draw for the Regions' Cup," Boyce told uefa.com while at the UEFA European Under-17 Championship in Germany last month, "and I think the people who go to Croatia will be very impressed with the organisation of the tournament. Certainly the way the draw was organised was tremendous."

Croatian effort
Europe's premier amateur tournament kicks off on Monday with the host nation represented by Centre Zagreb AMA and Boyce believes the efforts of the Croatian Football Federation (HNS) will make it a UEFA Regions' Cup to remember. "The pitches I have seen everyone is very happy with, and I think they will really push the boat out to make sure everyone who goes to Croatia will come back with very happy memories," Boyce continued. "It's very nice that a country like Croatia is hosting the Regions' Cup. They are expecting good crowds as well."

Players' dream
In the official programme for the finals, HNS president Vlatko Marković added that it was "a great honour and real pleasure" to host the finals. Boyce also hailed the unique concept of the competition. "I've said many times that I think the Regions' Cup has been a tremendous innovation by UEFA," Boyce said. "It is for players who never dreamt they would have the opportunity of playing in a European competition; to them it's like their World Cup dream. The players who go to Croatia this year will certainly enjoy it."