But, the president of the tournament's Organising Committee today warned other teams hoping to take part in the recycling and waste management sector's premier sporting event that time is running out for them to enter.
The Waste World Cup 2005 is to take part on Friday, September 9, at University College, Northampton. Mixed-gender teams from the public, private and social enterprise sector taking part.
 Team letsrecycle.com retrieves the ball from yet another Biffa goal in last year's Waste World Cup final |
Potential challengers to last year's winners Biffa Waste Services have until June 18 to send in their entries for the six-aside football competition, so that teams can then be drawn for the competition itself.
Entries have already been received from a diverse range of organisations from the public, private and community sectors – from waste management “giants” to community groups.
Speaking at the Waste World Cup headquarters in Northampton, the Organising Committee president, Dr Margaret Bates, said: “Now is the time to get entries in for this most prestigious of recycling and waste management sector tournaments.”
Champions
Dr Bates said the Organising Committee was pleased that 2004 champions Biffa had confirmed their intention to defend their title. Dr Bates said: “Unlike UEFA, we can categorically state that the champions of our competition, the waste sector's premier footballing tournament, will be allowed to defend their title.”
The one-day tournament kicks-off with a group stage, where teams can win through to the knock-out competition until two teams are left to battle it out for the cup.
“The competition for places in the latter, knock-out stages of the tournament will be just as intense – if not more so – than last year, but the only teams that can contest this important championship are those that have first entered for the tournament,” Dr Bates said, adding: “You've got to be in it to win it.”
Entries for the Waste World Cup should include contact details and some information about the team itself, and should be emailed to James Cartledge at: james@letsrecycle.com.
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More on how to enter – and on the tournament itself – can be found at the official website, www.letsrecycle.com/wwc/
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