Ahead of Porto, Ajax and Besiktas – our U12s shine in international field in Belgrade

After our U13 team finished among the last 16 at the Nika Cup in Belgrade, Árpád Kovács's side also travelled to Serbia last weekend to represent our club at the prestigious international tournament. The youth tournament for U12 teams featured 56 sides, divided into seven groups of eight. We finished the group stage with four wins, two draws and just one defeat. 

Our U12s suffered their only defeat against Rijeka, then played out a goalless draw in a tough match against Sevilla. Our academy players therefore finished third in their group due to an inferior goal difference and continued in the silver bracket. From then on our team were unbeaten: they won their next four matches and claimed the overall silver-bracket title. 

That meant our academy players finished 17th overall in the prestigious international tournament featuring 56 teams, ahead of clubs such as FC Porto, Ajax Amsterdam and Besiktas. 

Results: 

Kispest–Honvéd FC–AF Bambi Zrenjanin (SRB) 1–0
Goalscorer: Sinkó.

Kispest–Honvéd FC–FK Zeleznicar Pancevo (SRB) 1–0
Goalscorer: Halama.

Kispest–Honvéd FC–FC Arges Pitesti (ROU) 2–1
Goalscorers: Halama, Csikós.

Kispest–Honvéd FC–RFK Graficar (SRB) 1–1
Goalscorer: Halama

Kispest–Honvéd FC–FK T6 Nika (SRB) 1–0
Goalscorer: Túrós.

Kispest–Honvéd FC–HNK Rijeka (CRO) 0–1

Kispest–Honvéd FC–FC Sevilla (ESP) 0–0

Kispest–Honvéd FC–UTA Arad (ROU) 2–0
Goalscorers: Sinkó, Halama.

Kispest–Honvéd FC–FK Dinamo Pancevo (SRB) 1–0
Goalscorer: Szabó.

Kispest–Honvéd FC–FK Park City Skopje (MKD) 0–0 (pens: 3–2)
Penalty takers: Varga, Joánovits, Halama.

Kispest–Honvéd FC–AS Trencin (SVK) 1–0
Goalscorer: Pályka.

List of participating players: Bitter Vince Vitalij, Csikós Zsombor, Czagányi Bence, Hajszák-Tanárki László, Halama Zente, Hornyák-Zay Balázs, Joánovits Levente, Pályka Vince, Sinkó Barnabás, Szabó Vince, Tóth Ambrus, Túrós Máté, Varga Aurél Gyula, Witka Márk.

Árpád Kovács, head coach: 

“We have come through a very intense and demanding three days. We were in Belgrade at the 56-team Nika Cup, where the academies of numerous major clubs took part, creating an extremely strong field. The group matches were played on the first and second days, and we finished with 4 wins, 2 draws and 1 defeat, collecting 14 points. In our group only Croatia's Rijeka managed to beat us, while we drew with Spanish giants FC Sevilla in a tough match. Although we collected the same number of points as the Spanish side, we finished third in the group because of our inferior goal difference. Ironically, that goal difference was also only good enough for third place among the third-placed teams, so we were the first team to miss out on the gold bracket. However, in Sunday's silver bracket we played like favourites and, apart from the semi-final – which was decided on penalties – won every match in regulation time. We therefore became champions of the silver bracket and finished 17th in the 56-team tournament, ahead of teams such as FC Porto, Ajax Amsterdam and Turkey's Besiktas. Even more importantly, apart from a few shorter periods, we were able to show our own style throughout and achieve results with our possession-based game. We won 8 of our 11 matches, alongside 2 draws and just 1 defeat. We were able to show our passion, our identity and the principles according to which we develop the children and work every day. I am proud of them! I would like to thank Attila Szász very much for his help, and the parents who accompanied us for their support and fantastic cheering. CSAK A KISPEST!”