/ 24 May 1999

MAN UNITED MINES THE CAPE

MANCHESTER United, the English Premiership club chasing multiple European football honours, has followed Ajax Amsterdam by signing up with a Cape Town club. United, known by the Old Trafford faithful as “The Reds”, have signed a deal with FC Fortune making the Cape club their official youth soccer player development representative in southern Africa. The First Division club is co-owned by one of Cape Town’s most famous football alumni, Bafana Bafana and Atletico Madrid midfielder Quinton Fortune. Top club coach Colin Gie, Manchester United director Michael Edelson and investment banker Selwyn Lewis are all on FC Fortune’s board. Lewis, who is the club chairman, said a meeting would be held between Quinton Fortune and United officials in Cape Town in June when the final details will be ironed out.