Árpád Kovács's team played two preparation matches before the tournament, warming up for the group stage against Czech side Sparta Praha and Polish outfit Raków Częstochowa. In the 18-team international field, alongside our boys, three other Hungarian teams—Újpest, MTK Budapest, and Debrecen—represented the country. Our age group started the tournament in Group A, playing eight matches in total and finishing with two wins, three draws, and three defeats.
Going forward, our academy players continued in the Silver Group, where another five fixtures awaited them. Following a goalless draw against Red Bull Salzburg, they produced a great performance against Romanian side Academia Viitorul Cluj to avenge their group-stage loss, followed by another two-goal triumph against Polish side AP Wisła Kraków. Our team suffered a two-goal defeat against Czech club FC Baník Ostrava, and closed the tournament against MTK Budapest with another 0–0 draw.
Our team thus finished runners-up in the Silver Group, which translated into eighth place overall in the 18-team tournament. Our U12 side also emerged as the top-ranking Hungarian team in the international competition.
Results:
Kispest–Honvéd FC–AC Sparta Praha (CZE) 1–3
Kispest–Honvéd FC–Raków Częstochowa (POL) 0–0
Group Stage:
Kispest–Honvéd FC–AC Sparta Praha (CZE) 0–0
Kispest–Honvéd FC–UTE (HUN) 1–0
Goalscorer: Csikós
Kispest–Honvéd FC–Academia Viitorul Cluj (ROU) 0–1
Kispest–Honvéd FC–NS Mura (SVN) 0–0
Kispest–Honvéd FC–Raków Częstochowa (POL) 0–2
Kispest–Honvéd FC–CFT Academy (SVK) 0–1
Kispest–Honvéd FC–Spartak Trnava (SVK) 2–0
Goalscorers: Czagányi, Halama (pen.)
Kispest–Honvéd FC–FC Red Bull Salzburg (AUT) 0–0
Silver Group:
Kispest–Honvéd FC–FC Red Bull Salzburg (AUT) 0–0
Kispest–Honvéd FC–Academia Viitorul Cluj (ROU) 2–0
Goalscorers: Halama, Kovács
Kispest–Honvéd FC–AP Wisła Kraków (POL) 2–0
Goalscorers: Csikós, Tóth
Kispest–Honvéd FC–FC Baník Ostrava (CZE) 0–2
Kispest–Honvéd FC–MTK Budapest (HUN) 0–0
Squad: Márk Witka, László Hajszák-Tanárki, Levente Joánovits, Vince Szabó, Máté Túrós, Balázs Hornyák-Zay, Vince Bitter, Aurél Varga, Olivér Kovács, Ambrus Tóth © , Zsombor Csikós, Zente Halama, Bence Czagányi, Zebulon Ladányi.
Head Coach: Árpád Kovács
Assistant Coach / Team Manager: Attila Szász
Physio: Rajmund Zsigmond
Árpád Kovács, head coach:
“On the first day, we played eight matches, and our performance fluctuated. Although the tournament was played in an 8+1 format, the matches took place on much tighter pitches than usual, which favored a physical style rich in transitions. In several games, we could not impose our desired possession-based identity because our opponents put us under heavy pressure while we had little space for combination play. Because of this, there were matches where everything clicked—for example, beating eventual tournament winners Spartak Trnava—but also occasions when less powerful teams got the better of us due to our technical mistakes. Consequently, we finished fifth in the group, which meant continuing in the Silver Group the next day. Strong opponents awaited us there as well, and aside from one match where we played well below our capabilities, we made significant progress in physical duel competitiveness, and our play on the ball became much more precise with fewer technical errors. Overall, I am satisfied with the team, as we finished eighth out of 18 teams in a strong tournament, taking second place in the Silver Group ahead of clubs like Wisła Kraków, Baník Ostrava, or NS Mura, and also finishing highest among the Hungarian sides. We gained invaluable experience by playing against the likes of RB Salzburg and Sparta Praha, showing what we stand for without having to feel ashamed of sharing the spoils. I am proud of the team. CS.A.K.”
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