Belfast football club Crusaders is celebrating the success of its under 14s after they finished runners up in the Mina Cup in Dubai - representing Northern Ireland for the first time in the prestigious international tournament.
The North Belfast club qualified for the competition, which boasts Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur legend Teddy Sheringham as its ambassador, after winning the Super Cup last summer, beating local rivals Linfield 3-1 in the final.
The youngsters jetted off to the Middle East last week with their families for the once in a lifetime experience and topped their group, winning all three matches.
They cruised their way through the opening game beating The United Arab Emirates (UAE) Manchester City academy 5-0. Al Qadsiah FC proved tougher opponents but the Crues still came out as 3-1 victors over the Saudi side.
The final game in the group was against La Liga Dubai which finished an impressive 10-nil. The young Hatchet men faced Reds FC from UAE in the semi-finals on Sunday, battling to a 2-1 win.
Goals in the matches came from Michael Mulholland - who picked up top goal scorer of the tournament, Adam Mulholland, Finn Hegarty, Cruz Amoh-Devlin and Daithi Holleran.
But with just several hours rest they’d be up against their biggest test yet, meeting Kafue Celtic from Zambia in a nail-biting final live streamed on YouTube. The match was scoreless at half time as the boys held off their African opponents. But the game ended one nil despite several chances for the Crues.
Speaking afterwards, Crusaders U14 Team manager Lee Finlay said: “Winning the Budget Energy SuperCupNI was a special moment for our boys and for the club, but to get the chance to go to Dubai to compete in the Mina Cup was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
“Our young players proudly represented Crusaders, the Budget Energy SuperCupNI and Northern Ireland on a global stage, going up against some of the best youth sides in the world. The boys were absolutely buzzing to go to Dubai and do everyone proud and they didn’t disappoint.
“They all played their parts in extremely high temperatures displaying grit, skill and stamina, testament to their attitude and fitness.
“But it wasn’t just about football. It was also a chance to experience a new culture, create lifelong memories with their teammates and grow as young people as well as players. We at the club are very proud of the entire team and what they’ve achieved.”
For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.
English (United States) ·