University men’s soccer team sets sporting precedent with great tour of China

RMIT University will send its men’s soccer team, RMIT Redbacks, to China next week in an unprecedented move to build strong relationships between Australia and China.

The 2002 Tour of China originated from a student initiative to set up a sporting and professional relationship with Chinese universities and to help bridge the gap between these two fast growing soccer nations.

With the endorsement of RMIT University and the support of Soccer Australia, the RMIT Redback’s passion to promote Australian soccer in the Asia-Pacific region has led to the coordination of the 10-day tour.

The tour begins on 27 August and will include matches with China’s most elite university soccer teams, including Shenyang Physical Education University, Dong Bei University of Finance and Economy, Shenyang Agricultural University, and Qing Hua University.

The RMIT men’s soccer team began their training about six months ago with its fifteen members each travelling from different ends of Melbourne to train several times each week for the tour.

Among the team members are players who have participated in a number of high-level soccer competitions across Victoria.

Professor Michael Benes, an RMIT University lecturer in criminal justice and former representative of the Czechoslovakian National Team, is coaching the team.

The RMIT Redbacks will fly to China on 27 August and play its first game in China with Qing Hua University two days later.The team will play three more games before returning to Melbourne in September.

The RMIT Redbacks, which first came to prominence in 1996 when they were named runners-up in the first State University Games in Bendigo, clinched the gold medal at this year’s State University Games.

For more information about the RMIT Redbacks, contact Anthony Zandez, Manager, RMIT Redbacks on 0407 455 233 or see: www.rmitredbacks.com

PICTURE OPPORTUNITY:

WHAT:Meet the RMIT University men’s soccer team, RMIT Redbacks, before they leave for the 2002 Tour of China

WHEN:Wednesday, 21 August at 10am

WHERE:Bundoora Netball and Sports Centre, RMIT University, Bundoora Campus, Plenty Road, Bundoora

Contact: Andrew Yee, Publicist, RMIT University (03) 9925 3176, 0417 592 398