Our U12 team returned home from Eger with gold medals, as invited participants of the 1st Janovicz Pékség Cup.

Our U12 team returned home from Eger with gold medals, as invited participants of the 1st Janovicz Pékség Cup.

The tournament was held in two age groups: FC Košice triumphed in the U13 category, while in U12 our boys claimed the top spot on the podium. Our coaches provided a detailed account of the event. Congratulations to the team!

László Hodgyai – Head Coach

We spent the weekend in Eger at a prestigious tournament where we could test ourselves against renowned clubs. Being among the invited teams of the first Janovicz Pékség Cup, we considered it a valuable challenge for our squad.

Six teams took part in the U12 competition for players born in 2014: Eger SE, Puskás Academy, Kisvárda LA, FC Košice, DVTK, and our team. Each team played against every opponent, and the final standings determined the playoffs: the top two contested the final, the 3rd and 4th played for bronze, and the last two for 5th place.

The schedule turned out well for us. Our opening match against Eger SE ended 0–0 after many missed chances on both sides. Next came a 4–0 victory over Puskás Academy, where the boys played confident and spectacular football. Against Kisvárda we scored early and comfortably won 3–0.

Facing FC Košice, we immediately noticed several technically skilled players. The first half ended goalless – neither side had conceded before. In the second half we took the lead but conceded right after, ending in a fair 1–1 draw. After the game I told my coaching colleagues that we’d meet again in the final – and so it happened. Our 0–0 draw with DVTK proved enough to reach the final with identical points and goal difference as Košice.

In the final, we knew our opponents could play smart, structured football if given the space. We asked the boys to dig deep for every bit of energy left and press high to prevent them from building up. The tactic paid off: after a corner, Zsombor Parajdi scored – the same player who netted the opener at our last tournament win in Cegléd. Košice equalized midway through the second half, 1–1.

The penalty shootout was a real rollercoaster: we had victory in our hands but hit the post. Finally, thanks to the saves of our goalkeeper Kevin Fazakas, we secured the trophy. Kevin was also voted the best goalkeeper of the tournament.

I am very happy for this invitation – it was an excellent test for us. It was a special joy to play against such renowned academies as Puskás and Kisvárda, but all teams showed great quality. I want to thank the organizers for the invitation, especially Szilárd Sütő and our academy director József Tajti for their support. It was a fantastic experience for the children to receive their medals from legends such as former national coach János Csank, ex–NB I coach Károly Kis, and former Hungarian international player, coach Ferenc Horváth. For all of us, it was a great honor that the ceremony ended with the Székely Anthem.

Roland Barabási – Assistant Coach

A match is about more than just the minutes played. Preparations before and recovery afterwards are equally important. The players’ mood greatly influences their performance, and the pre-match motivation helps them start the game at a higher level. This was, among others, one of my tasks. At a tournament with tough back-to-back games, these duties become increasingly complex and demanding, as the children get tired both mentally and physically. However, I believe we manage to share the responsibilities very well with my colleague, and thanks to the boys’ exceptional attitude, they bring joy not only to themselves but also to their parents and to us, the coaches.