 The Vasco Youth Program’s Under-11 team just finished taking part in the 16th International Under 11 Football Tournament of the Azores.
The tournament, organized by Clube União Micaelense based in Ponta Delgada, Azores, was an exciting display of 7-a-side football from 32 teams personally invited to attend, spanning 8 different countries with over 650 athletes participating. In addition to Bermuda, there were teams from throughout the Azores, Madeira, mainland Portugal, the USA, Canada, Italy, Malta, Cabo Verde, and Australia.
FC Porto won the tournament overall with Juventus placing 2nd, followed by Sporting Club of Portugal and the hosts, Clube União Micaelense, placing 3rd and 4th respectively.
The Vasco Youth Program had its best performance ever, finishing 9th out of 32 teams. When Vasco made its debut in 2019, the team placed 9th out of 20 teams. Last year, the team placed 17th out of 24 teams.
The team drew its first game against Club Sport Marítimo of Madeira (2-2). They won the rest of their group games against Grupo Desportivo São Roque of the Azores (3-1) and Sporting Clube Campomaiorense of mainland Portugal (4-1). Outside of the group phases, Vasco won its games against Mini Foot – Aveiro of mainland Portugal (2-0); Clube Desportivo Os Oliveirenses of the Azores (4-0); and Soccer Performance Academy of Canada (3-0).
The Vasco Youth Program team to the Azores comprised: Austin Viera; Cai Williams; Charles Mitchell; Cole Prior; Damian Moniz; Eben Oosthuizen; Jasper Herrick; Lucas Amaral; Mason Barioni; Nikolai Shaw; Roman Gaglio; Ryan Renaud; and Seth Neil.
Accompanying the team were: coaches Enio Vieira and Reed Gaglio; Vasco technical director, Leo Burgess; Vasco Youth Program director, Germano Botelho; and Vasco president, Richard Ambrosio.
The Vasco Youth Program is also pleased to note that Roman Gaglio, who played in a striking or attacking midfielder role throughout the tournament, was individually honoured by the tournament organizers as one of the best seven players throughout. This is now the second time that Roman has received this distinction, and it follows his attendance at football trials with Sporting Clube de Portugal in Lisbon in June 2023.
Roman won several “man of the match” awards while in the Azores. However, he was joined by Mason Barioni who also won the award for one of his matches.
Germano Botelho, Director of the Vasco Youth Program, expressed how proud he and the coaching staff were of the team:
“Our players did a fantastic job during the tournament. The athletes experienced football at a level they were not used to but they stepped up and played beyond their normal abilities. Their adaptation to the European style and physicality was awarded with a 9th place finish.
Richard Ambrosio, President of Vasco da Gama, who was present at the games, thanked everyone involved as follows:
“Despite all the challenges inherent in an initiative of this nature, from the logistics of getting our team to the Azores, to the weather conditions that didn't help us, our team has nothing but praise for Clube União Micaelense and the dozens of volunteers who contributed to the success of the Tournament.
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