Portugal Super Liga club Maritimo, who have a large and passionate support among the Island’s Madeiran community, had already agreed to send their reserve/U21 side to play in the Jersey International Football Tournament next month against Barcelona, Celtic and the Island senior team.
Club president Carlos Pereira has now confirmed to local media that his first team have agreed to travel to play a Jersey side on Sunday 31 July.
A Madeiran newspaper, Jornal da Madeira, recently published big spreads on the August tournament – and the first-team’s acceptance of an invitation to play in the Island from Sporting Eventualities, organisers of the Jersey Tournament.
Sporting Eventualities director Ian Mackenzie confirmed that negotiations have been taking place for quite a while, though he says there are ‘still a couple of issues to be sorted.’ ‘I hope to be able to confirm the match within the next few days,’ added Mackenzie.
Maritimo finished seventh in the Super Liga last season and have qualified for the UEFA Cup on several occasions – Rangers knocked them out on a penalty shoot-out last season – and their appearance, a great boost for Island football, is tied in with the Taste of Madeira food festival which has been organised by Rogerio Martins of Clube Sport Maderia and Sporting Eventualities.
The proposed twinning of St Helier and Madeira’s capital, Funchal, adds further meaning to the visit which could also be attended by the President of Madeira Dr Alberto Joäo Jardim.
