MILAN, Oct. 24, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Brera Holdings PLC ("Brera Holdings", “Brera” or the "Company") (Nasdaq: BREA) announces the third edition of its FENIX Trophy tournament– the European championship called “Champions League for amateurs” by BBC Sport – will have its official kick-off on October 24th. The first match will be hosted by the Prague Raptors (Czech Republic), their third participation in the tournament and runners up in both previous editions, who will face newcomers Venus Bucharest (Romania). The defending champion BK Skjold (Denmark) will debut on November 28th challenging Enfield Town FC (England) in London.
The FENIX Trophy represents Brera’s amateur football legacy following its entry into top-level professional football with its three teams from around the globe: Brera Strumica competing in the North Macedonian First Division, Brera Ilch in the Mongolian Premier League, and Brera Tchumene currently playing for promotion to the First Division in Mozambique.
The FENIX Trophy combines the best features of great international football with the spirit of non-professional football. Key matches from across Europe streamed live on the FENIX Trophy TV YouTube Channel are accompanied by values such as hospitality and sharing between the clubs. The teams don't just meet during the game; they share fun and inspirational moments before and after, promoting cultural exchange and creating a friendly environment for clubs, players and supporters. Brera’s continuing objective is to make the FENIX Trophy an extraordinary social impact football experience with a concrete economic value for the major companies seeking to invest in ESG through sport.
Twelve clubs selected for their exceptional social, historical and cultural distinctiveness are set to compete in the FENIX Trophy Tournament, divided into four groups (3 teams per group) for the initial stage. The group winners will advance to the Final Four, which is set to take place in Lombardia in May 2024. The champions from the first two editions, FC United of Manchester and BK Skjold, confirmed their participation alongside the Prague Raptors FC, KSK Beveren, and the Krakow Dragons. Several new entries are joining the FENIX Trophy: English sides Enfield Town FC (London) and Lewes FC (Lewes); Llantwit Major FC (Wales); Venus Bucuresti (Romania); Gilla FC (Helsinki, Finland); FC Oslo (Norway); and Vinsky FC (Paris, France) round out the 2023-24 field.
As a result of Brera Holdings’ ascension into first division professional football and global expansion, Brera FC of Milan will not take in the upcoming edition of the Tournament - so far the biggest and widest for number of participants and countries represented. Brera Holdings confirms it commitment and will invest its resources in the development of the project: a Brera delegation led by FENIX Trophy commissioner Leonardo Aleotti will attend the first three games in Prague, Krakow, and Beveren, to meet with institutions, sports world executives, and prospective sponsor companies to raise awareness on the competition.
Brera aims to enhance the ESG potential of the 2023-24 FENIX Trophy competition to become an industry benchmark for non-professional football best practices, as well as a stimulating presence for global social impact football. Brera FC will appear on the pitch in the FENIX Trophy for an exhibition match during the Final Four between a “Brera Legends” squad, and a selection of the best players from the eliminated teams, while the eventual winners of the 2023-24 FENIX Trophy will be hosted in North Macedonia for a friendly match against Brera Strumica, which plays in the country’s First Division.
The groups for the 2023-24 edition are:
GROUP A: BK Skjold (Copenhagen); Enfield Town (London); Llantwit Major FC (Llantwit Major)
GROUP B: Prague Raptors (Prague); Venus Bucuresti (Bucharest); Gilla FC (Helsinki)
GROUP C: Fc United of Manchester (Manchester); Vinsky FC (Paris); Kragow Dragons (Krakow)
GROUP D: KSK Beveren (Beveren); Lewes FC (Lewes); FC Oslo (Oslo)
THE SCHEDULE SO FAR
October 24th 2023 – ZLICIN ARENA – PRAGUE (CZECH REPUBLIC)
Prague Raptors – Venus Bucarest
October 25th 2023 – KS PRADNICZANKA – KRAKOW (POLAND)
Krakow Dragoons – Vinsky FC
October 26th 2023 – LINDENLAAN G TERREIN – BEVEREN (BELGIUM)
KSK Beveren – FC Oslo
November 6th 2023 – KS PRADNICZANKA – KRAKOW (POLAND)
Krakow Dragoons – FC United of Manchester
November 7th 2023 – THE DRIPPING PAN – LEWES (ENGLAND)
Lewes FC – FC Oslo
November 28th 2023 – QUEEN ELIZABETH II STADIUM (LONDON)
Enfield Town FC – Bk Skjold
December 12th 2023 – LINDENLAAN G TERREIN – BEVEREN (BELGIUM)
KSK Beveren – Lewes FC
Past Fenix Trophy Winners (Photo by Mike Bayly)
ABOUT BRERA HOLDINGS PLC
Brera Holdings PLC (Nasdaq: BREA) is focused on expanding its social impact football (American soccer) business by developing a global portfolio of emerging football and other sports clubs with increased opportunities to earn tournament prizes, gain sponsorships, and provide other professional football- and sports-related consulting services. The Company seeks to build on the legacy and brand of Brera FC, the first football club that was acquired by the Company in 2022. Brera FC, known as "The Third Team of Milan," is an amateur football association which has been building an alternative football legacy since its founding in 2000. In March 2023, the Company expanded to Africa with the establishment of Brera Tchumene FC, a team admitted to the Second Division League in Mozambique, a country of nearly 32 million people. In April 2023, the Company acquired 90% of the European first division football team Fudbalski Klub Akademija Pandev in North Macedonia, a country with participation rights in two major Union of European Football Association ("UEFA") competitions. On July 31, 2023, the Company completed the acquisition of a majority ownership in the Italian Serie A1 women's professional volleyball team UYBA Volley S.s.d.a.r.l. In October 2023, the Company assumed control of Bayanzurkh Sporting Ilch FC, a team in the Mongolian National Premier League, which will become Brera Ilch FC when the football season resumes in March 2024. The Company is focused on bottom-up value creation from undervalued sports clubs and talent, innovation-powered business growth, and socially-impactful outcomes. See www.breraholdings.com
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements that are subject to various risks and uncertainties. Such statements include statements regarding the Company's ability to grow its business and other statements that are not historical facts, including statements which may be accompanied by the words "intends," "may," "will," "plans," "expects," "anticipates," "projects," "predicts," "estimates," "aims," "believes," "hopes," "potential" or similar words. Actual results could differ materially from those described in these forward-looking statements due to a number of factors, including without limitation, the Company's ability to continue as a going concern, the popularity and/or competitive success of the Company's acquired football and other sports teams, the Company's ability to attract players and staff for acquired clubs, unsuccessful acquisitions or other strategic transactions, the possibility of a decline in the popularity of football or other sports, the Company's ability to expand its fanbase, sponsors and commercial partners, general economic conditions, and other risk factors detailed in the Company's filings with the SEC. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date of this press release, and the Company does not undertake any responsibility to update such forward-looking statements except in accordance with applicable law.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
FOR MEDIA AND INVESTOR RELATIONS
Pierre Galoppi, Chief Executive Officer
Brera Holdings PLC
pierre@breraholdings.com
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