I amsterdam - Best International Football

Ajax and Amsterdam
Any football fan setting foot in Amsterdam knows all about Ajax and its proud history—-even if recent seasons have brought more trauma than glory to the hardcore supporters who regularly pack out the Amsterdam ArenA. Yet for those tourists hoping to catch a glimpse of the latest Ajax stars, most get no further than the local sports bar because of the stringent laws in place to prevent hooliganism in and around stadiums. Anyone wishing to take in a top-level football match in the Netherlands is required to be a registered fan in possession of a club card, and while Ajax themselves do offer special package deals for those passing through, it typically means paying out much more for the privilege than local supporters do.

Youth team
Fear not, however, because if Ajax are famous for one thing—-apart from national hero and international footballing legend Johan Cruyff—-it's their youth academy which has been moulding young starlets for decades, and has seen the likes of Marco van Basten, Frank Rijkaard, Dennis Bergkamp and Patrick Kluivert come through the ranks. And since 2005, the latest batch of players edging closer to first team action have been showcased at the Gestion Copa Amsterdam, an international club competition for the Under-19s.

Carnival atmosphere
Hosted over the Pinkster holiday weekend—-in 2007 from 26-28 May—-it may not sound like a glamorous event on paper, but in reality, it's a breath of fresh air for the local footballing calendar, moving away from the intense rivalries and crowd segregation which you find in the Eredivise, the Netherlands' top division, and instead providing a carnival atmosphere where young and old Ajax followers can back their team, sing all day and sit happily alongside travelling fans.

Upcoming talent
Held in Sportpark Sloten, the home to amateur club FC Blauw-Wit Amsterdam, around 15,000 spectators are expected to pack into the intimate stadium over the three days, feeling like they're part of a sporting event rather than viewing it from the gods. With games broken down into two 25 minute halves rather than 90 gruelling minutes, it's all about the dazzling soccer skills and fair play rather than endurance, and even if you don't recognise their names at the start of the weekend, by the end you'll be convinced you'll be seeing much more of these youngsters in the coming years. 

Previous winners
Previous winners include Panathinaikos (Greece) and Cruzeiro (Brazil), while this year's participants include Ajax, Werder Bremen, Cruzeiro, Glasgow Rangers, Ajax Cape Town, Fenerbahçe and Florida Soccer Alliance (formerly Ajax Orlando). The competition runs throughout each afternoon and tickets can be purchased online at www.gestion-copa-amsterdam.nl.