My preview of Spurs’ participation in the 2019 Terborg tournament: 

A Spurs under 19 side will be competing in this years Terborg tournament in the Netherlands at the end of the month. Regular participants in this tournament over the years, Spurs will be looking to cap off a successful season on the academy front with some much deserved silverware. This prestigious post season tournament is celebrating its 40th birthday this year, and once again it includes a whole host of top clubs who are competing in it. The tournament is split into two groups and John McDermott and Ryan Mason’s side have been drawn in the Van Egmond group with Flamengo, Aiax Cape Town and Vitesse Arnhem. Three very good technical teams who Spurs will have to be at their very best to beat, South African club Aiax Cape Town are renowned at this level for their technical ability while the other two sides like to play a passing game. The other group contains Liverpool, Palmeiras and De Graafschap. We will play one of those teams on the final day of the tournament depending on where we finish in the group. At the end of the day this is an end of season tournament which is being played very late in the season, so it will be interesting to see what squad McDermott and Mason pick for a tournament which they will undoubtedly be wanting to win, although Spurs will be without a number of important players including main danger man Troy Parrott through injury. However, this will mean that some of the young Spurs players (mainly under 18’s) who haven’t played a lot this season will get some much needed game time. Group games are 2×25 minutes with the exception of the final being slightly longer. I will also be interested to see which overage players are used for Spurs with their being three players available to choose from. I wonder if we will see Jack Roles be used as a centre forward. Playing in this prestigious tournament is a great way to end the season for the young ‘ Lilywhites ‘ who will be wanting to end the 2018/19 season on a high. I will be travelling out to Terborg in the east of the Netherlands first thing on Thursday morning ahead of  the tournament starting the following day. My in-depth match reports will be published on the day of the games. 

My message of support to the team: It’s been a great season for Spurs at both under 18 and under 23 level and every single Spurs player should be proud of all that they have achieved so far this campaign. The Terborg tournament spells an end to what has been a very long season and I would like to wish John McDermott and Ryan Mason’s under 19 side all the very best of luck for the forthcoming Terborg tournament. I also hope that they enjoy themselves watching us beat Liverpool in the UEFA Champions League final on the second day of the tournament!

The Spurs squad I’m predicting that will travel to the Netherlands: Jonathan De Bie, Kacper Kurylowicz, Jubril Okedina, Brooklyn Lyons-Foster, Malachi Walcott, Jonathan Dinzeyi*, Luis Binks, Dennis Cirkin, Jamie Bowden, Harvey White, Armando Shashoua, Tashan Oakley-Boothe*, Phoenix Patterson, Dilan Markanday, Elliot Thorpe, Rayan Clarke, J’Neil Bennett, Rodel Richards.

*= Overage player (three are allowed).

Doubtful: Paris Maghoma, Enoch Asante, Jamie Reynolds, Dennis Cirkin.

Injured/unavailable: Jeremie Mukendi, Maximus Tainio, TJ Eyoma, Troy Parrott.

Spurs’ schedule:  

Day 1 (31st of May): Spurs v Ajax Cape Town (kick off – 19:00 PM CET)

Day 2 (June 1): Spurs v Flamengo (kick off – 10:00 AM CET)

Spurs v Vitesse Arnhem (kick off – 14:00 PM)

Day 3 (June 2) TBC. The final may be televised.