Courtesy: Reading Eagle


German sister city, Reading united through soccer

20/6/2012

A friendly competition among sister cities will have a local amateur soccer team traveling to Germany to show off its skills.

The Reading United Futsal Team will play in the annual futsal, or indoor soccer, tournament starting Thursday in Reading's sister city, Reutlingen, Germany.

The cities have maintained a relationship based on an educational, cultural and business exchange.

"We've had an ongoing relationship for probably 12 years or more," former Mayor Tom McMahon said. "Reutlingen really values its relationships with its sister cities, and we're trying to maintain that active relationship."

Reutlingen invites teams from its sister cities - Reading; Aarau, Switzerland; Roanne, France; Szolnok, Hungary; and Ellesmere Port, England - to participate in the tournament as a part of the city's annual festival.

McMahon saw the tournament as an opportunity to continue the sister city relationship. He approached Troy Snyder, vice president and technical director of Reading United Athletic Club, about putting together a team.

"I thought it was a really neat idea," Snyder said. "A few months ago, we held tryouts and we got together a team of eight really great players, both young guys and some with a lot of experience."

In addition to weeks of training, the team had to raise money to help cover the cost. While Reutlingen will supply meals, lodging and transportation in Germany, the team still had to pay for the flight overseas.

Reading United player and assistant coach Mike Dietrich hopes the tournament will get more people interested in the sport he has loved for more than 35 years.

"This is just another great opportunity to play soccer, the world's sport, with international partners and strengthen that bond," he said. "This will really help to promote soccer, especially for the Reading area because this is such a hotbed for soccer."

Reading United will go up against teams from all over Europe, but Dietrich said he's not intimidated.

"We have an opportunity to have a really good showing," he said. "We'll be representing Reading and the greater Berks County area and we plan to bring back the trophy."

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Posted by Luca Ranocchiari --> luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com