Everton Confirm China Tour for Football Friendlies

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Friday, April 04, 2003

Everton Confirm China Tour for Football Friendlies

Everton have confirmed on Thursday their post-season tour to China in May for an international football tournament.

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Everton have confirmed on Thursday their post-season tour to China in May for an international football tournament.

At a press conference held Thursday in Shenzhen in south China's Guangdong province, Everton chairman Philip Carter said his sidewould play two friendly games on May 23 and 25 in Shenzhen.

The Kejian Cup Challenge will be featuring English premier league sides Everton and Aston Villa, along with Chinese first division teams Shenzhen and Shandong, organizers said.

Carter said Everton are looking forward to the Far East trip asit will be mutually beneficial to Chinese football and forgeign clubs which are keen to get a share in the Chinese market.

"China is one of the most rapidly growing football markets in the world and the Kejian Super Cup Challenge will provide an excellent opportunity for the world to understand more about the Chinese football and for the Chinese footballers to improve their skills, and its administrators and managers to enhance their professionalism," he said.

Everton benefited a lot from signing Chinese international Li Tie as media frenzy about the midfielder had made the English outfit a household name in China.

Li joined Everton on loan last summer as part of the sponsorship deal between Everton and Chinese mobile phone maker Kejian.

Kejian Super Cup Challenge fixtures:

May 23: Everton vs Shandong

Shenzhen vs Aston Villa

May 25: Aston Villa vs Shandong

Everton vs Shenzhen

Note: Everton will not play Aston Villa in the tournament. A win in the tournament will award teams three points, a draw one point and there will be a bonus of a point for each goal scored.

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