Iraqi National Soccer Team to Visit Texas for Dr Pepper Dallas Cup XXVII; U-14 Youth Team to Visit America for First Time to Compete in Tournament

DALLAS, March 30 /PRNewswire/ -- Dr Pepper Dallas Cup XXVII proudly announces the addition of the Iraq Under 14 National soccer team to the U-14 division competition. Iraq joins top soccer clubs such as FESA of El Salvador, Tigres Mana of Mexico, Crusaders SC of California, Elite Soccer of England, Chicago Magic of Illinois and Archbishop Tutu-Ikapa United of South Africa, who will compete in the most prestigious boys youth soccer tournament in the world. The tournament runs April 9-16, at Pizza Hut Park in Frisco, Texas. Exactly 184 teams will compete for top honors in Dr Pepper Dallas Cup XXVII.

This will be the first time the Iraq U-14 National Team has ever traveled to the United States, and Hyperion Resources of Dallas is the company making it all possible. Hyperion Resources is a private energy company with oil and gas operations primarily in the United States, with a recent emphasis on international development. Hyperion has been active in Iraq over the past two years. Hyperion has sponsored training for Iraqi Oil Ministry personnel in Dallas as well as at its west Texas operations.

Albert D. Huddleston, chairman and CEO, was impressed with the passion and superb skill of the Iraqi Soccer players and their enthusiastic fans.

"Since I have experienced their wonderful Iraqi hospitality and friendship, it was only natural for Hyperion to sponsor a highly skilled Iraqi youth team to compete at the prestigious Dr Pepper Dallas Cup and reciprocate with our own Texas hospitality," said Huddleston. "I am sure these young men will be enriched by this experience and develop long friendships."

Eighteen players, accompanied by a staff of six, will arrive at Dallas- Fort Worth International Airport the week of April 2, after spending a few days in Amman, Jordan, awaiting the long journey to America. The Iraq U-14 National Team will play Monday, April 10 at 10 a.m. against Chicago Magic of Frankfort, Ill., at Pizza Hut Park. On Tuesday, April 11, the national team competes against Maristas Monterrey of Mexico, also at 10 a.m. and Wednesday, April 12, they are scheduled to play Boise Capitals Premier of Idaho. The games at the complex are free, but if the Iraq U-14 National team advances into the finals at the end of the week, they will have the opportunity to play inside the stadium at Pizza Hut Park.

"Iraqi international team soccer has been very successful in recent years," Gordon Jago, executive director of Dallas Cup stated, "With these boys representing their U-14 National team, I am certain we are going to see some excellent performances from them."

The 184 teams and more than 4,000 players gathering in Dallas and Frisco for Dr Pepper Dallas Cup XXVII will face some of the toughest competition in the world from top clubs. Dallas Cup is more that just a youth soccer tournament; it is about participation in a sport where players interact with different cultures and styles of play and form lifelong friendships with their new neighbors from around the world.

Dr Pepper, a leading brand of Plano, Texas-based Cadbury Schweppes Americas Beverages (CSAB), is the official title sponsor of the Dr Pepper Dallas Cup. CSAB is a subsidiary division of Cadbury Schweppes plc and one of the largest producers of soft drinks and premium beverages in the Americas. CSAB's brand portfolio includes Dr Pepper, 7UP, Snapple, Mott's Apple Juice, RC Cola, A&W Root Beer, Sunkist Soda, Canada Dry, Hawaiian Punch, Schweppes, Diet Rite, Clamato, Mr & Mrs T Mixers, Holland House Mixers, Rose's, Mistic, Yoo-hoo, Orangina, IBC, Stewart's, Nantucket Nectars and other well-known consumer brands. For additional information on CSAB and its products, visit http://www.cadburyschweppes.com/csab .

The Dr Pepper Dallas Cup is the premier international youth soccer tournament in the world. Since 1980, Dallas Cup has hosted teams from all over the United States and the world. Soccer superstars including David Beckham, Landon Donovan, DeMarcus Beasley and Freddie Adu have participated in Dallas Cup as young amateurs. Dallas Cup, Inc. is a 501c(3) non-profit organization, headquartered in Dallas, Texas USA. Additional information about Dallas Cup can be found at http://www.dallascup.com/ .

For more information on Hyperion Resources, please contact Preston Phillips at pphillips@hyperionoil.com .