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News/Noticias
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: ECG/Austin, TX - 512.335.7776

Phoenix, AZ (January 4, 2006) — The Phoenix area’s youth soccer season is just underway, but one team has already scored in a new way.  Members of Club Deportivo Toluca have a new name, new uniforms and a new attitude for this season, thanks to Cingular Wireless.

In addition to the new look and name, the 65 members of the team — which consists of players aged 8-17 and spans four age divisions — also benefited from a workshop conducted by Mexico National Team Soccer superstar Pavel Pardo.  Pardo shared his techniques with the aspiring fubolistas in a private soccer clinic and autograph session December 22, 2005 at Kiwanis Park in Tempe.  

The team players, coaches and team managers were presented the new t-shirts and duffle bags at the clinic and presentation ceremonies.  The Cingular sponsorship and private clinic with Pardo will have a major impact on these young athletes as they step on the playing field for the first of the year as members of Club Deportivo Cingular Toluca.

“It is a great honor to have a company like Cingular Wireless sponsor our team and provide our players with the basic necessities in order for them to take the field,” said Fernando Cuevas, the team’s founder and general manager.  “Natural athletic talent and interest in the game is essential in creating a good player, but for the lack of uniforms and equipment many youngsters are never exposed to the benefits of a team sport.”

“Cingular Wireless is committed to supporting our local communities and we are exceptionally proud to sponsor programs that develop teamwork and leadership among Latino youth,” said Jeff McElfresh, vice-president and general manager, Cingular Wireless.   “Partnering with our local communities’ soccer programs has allowed Cingular to support many children and families throughout Phoenix.  We look forward to them having a great season.”

Cingular was a corporate sponsor of the exhibition game played December 14th in Phoenix between the Mexican National Team and Hungary, which Mexico won by a score of 2-to-1.  It is through that connection with the Mexican national team that Pavel Pardo was available to interact with 65 members of Club Deportivo Cingular Toluca.

“There is no better investment we can ever make than in our youth,” explained McElfresh.  “Our support of programs that focus on positive projects and programs — like the Mexican national soccer team and local soccer programs — is just one of the many ways we demonstrate our support of the Latino community as essential parts of our business and neighborhoods.”

ABOUT CLUB DEPORTIVO CINGULAR TOLUCA
Club Deportivo Cingular Toluca was formed in 2002 by Fernando Cuevas to promote youth soccer and pay homage to the state of Toluca in Mexico.  The mission of the club is to occupy the kids and keep them out of trouble, while motivating them and encouraging mental and physical fitness.  The team learns the importance of showing respect to their teammates and coaches during their Saturday games.  The coaches, Fernando Cuevas, Armando Lopez and Alfredo Hernandez, all donate their time with the team.  The club is represented in four different age divisions, with players ranging in age from 8 to 17 years.

ABOUT CINGULAR WIRELESS

Cingular is the leading wireless carrier within the U.S. Latino community.  With more than a 25% Latino employee base in Arizona — including bilingual representatives in the 33 retail stores and supporting call centers — Cingular is committed to provide its Spanish-speaking customers with the highest-quality service.  Cingular also has a plan designed for its Arizona customers with family and friends in Mexico for only $4.99 a month, customers can receive a greatly reduced rate of nine cents a minute for long distance calls to Mexico.  
 
Cingular is also the nation’s largest wireless carrier, serving over 52 million customers.  Cingular Wireless, a joint venture between AT&T Inc., formerly SBC Communications Inc., (NYSE: T) and BellSouth Corporation (NYSE: BLS), has the largest digital voice and data network in the nation — the ALLOVER(SM) network — and the largest mobile-to-mobile community of any national wireless carrier.  Cingular is the only U.S. wireless carrier to offer Rollover(SM), the wireless plan that lets customers keep their unused monthly minutes.  Details of the company are available in Spanish at http://www.cingular.com/.

MNT Soccer Superstar Pavel Pardo instructs Club Cingular Toluca soccer
team at a recent soccer clinic at Kiwanis Park in Tempe.

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