From Friday, March 28, to Sunday, March 30, our U16 team traveled to Portugal for the Algarve Elite Cup. The Mauves secured an impressive third place, with Jayden Onia Seke being named the tournament’s best player. RSCA remained undefeated and did not concede a single goal in regular time.
The Mauves kicked off the Elite Cup with a 0-0 draw against SC Braga. Thanks to narrow victories against Supra (Canada) and FC Copenhagen (Denmark), both with a score of 1-0, they finished the group stage as leaders.
On the tournament’s second day, coach Roma Cunillera’s team secured a convincing 3-0 victory against Danish side FC Midtjylland. A 2-0 win against Toluca FC from Mexico earned Sporting a place in the semifinals.
The intense semifinal against Portuguese powerhouse Sporting CP ended in a goalless draw, leading to a penalty shootout. After seven penalties each, our youngsters narrowly missed out on a spot in the final. In the third-place match, the Mauves once again defeated Toluca FC (0-1).
Our U16 team finished the Elite Cup with their heads held high. RSCA remained unbeaten in regular time and did not concede a single goal, thanks in part to an outstanding performance by goalkeeper Kamiel Timmermans. Moreover, Jayden Onia Seke was crowned both the best player and best forward of the prestigious tournament.
A successful tournament and a valuable learning experience for our Under 16’s, according to coach Roma. “We had a good preparation together and made progress during the games. It was a great experience as T1,” he reflected with satisfaction.