Media Release 26 November 2007
AIG Life Names Five Young Finalists in the Running for Dream Manchester United Trip
Five young soccer players have been chosen by the insurer AIG Life as the finalists in its national competition to find
a young soccer star to win an extraordinary trip to Old Trafford, home to the celebrated Manchester United. The talented
group includes the winner of a football-juggling competition, an Australian junior tournament champion, and a youngster
whose devotion to playing entails five two-hour round trips each week.
Now the competition is open to public vote, with all New Zealanders being asked to choose the winner.
AIG Life CEO David Pierce said, “We had hundreds of entries – a fantastic response. Now we’re asking all Kiwis to visit
the Manchester United Young Star competition page at www.aigmu.co.nz to view a personal video message from each of the
finalists and vote for the child they consider most deserving of a trip to see Manchester United play at their home
ground.”
New Zealanders can pick their favourite by visiting the AIG Life website by Sunday 2 December. The winner will be
announced by Wednesday 5 December.
The finalists, all fervent soccer-lovers aged between 11 and 16, met in Auckland for a training session with Wynton
Rufer on Thursday 22 November before returning home to Wanganui, Wellington, Christchurch, Gore and the Auckland suburb
of Hillsborough.
The session was broadcast by Campbell Live, and the full video can be viewed at www.tv3.co.nz/campbelllive.
Mr Rufer will lead the trip to Old Trafford between Tuesday 18 and Monday 24 December. The winner and their parent or
guardian will enjoy match-day hospitality at Manchester United’s game against Everton on Sunday 23 December, with five
nights’ accommodation in Manchester.
As principal sponsor of Manchester United, the most successful worldwide soccer club of the past twenty years, AIG
Life’s parent company AIG has access to tickets, hospitality and merchandise.
AIG Life is a subsidiary of American International Group, Inc (AIG), a global leader in insurance and financial services
with operations in more than 130 countries. It has US$1 trillion in assets, 69 million customers and 106,000 employees
worldwide.
ENDS