MANILA – Makati FC pulled off a 6-0 win over San Francisco Seals of the United States in the Girls 13 (2012) final to rule the Gothia World Youth Cup in Gothenburg, Sweden recently.
Nafeeza Ayasha Nori produced a scintillating four-star performance as Makati FC displayed technical and effective football to cap another unbeaten campaign for the decorated Philippine youth club.
Behind the same core that won the Girls 12 title last year that went undefeated in eight matches, Makati FC’s Girls 13 also had a perfect 8-0 run.
“I think we won because we worked as a team. We played really well,” said Nori, who netted a second-half hat-trick.
Chayada Sawangarom, Ariana Gementiza and Nori were on target in the first half as Makati FC went into the break with a commanding 3-0 lead.
“It feels incredible! Winning Gothia Cup for the second time is such an honor especially that this tournament brings together some of the best teams from around the world. Also, playing in the SKF Arena for the first time made our team more hyped up because of the support and cheers of our fellow Filipinos,” Gementiza said.
“Our hardest challenge in this tournament was to defend our title. Since we won last year, all the teams this year were watching us and looking out on us. So all the pressure was on us but that pressure made us more hyped up and gave us more motivation and a reason why we need to win the championship,” the Laguna native added.
It was Makati FC’s 40th year of participation in the world’s biggest youth football showcase.
In the semifinal, Makati FC was also dominant in a 6-0 conquest of Sweden’s Boo FF.
Makati FC’s Boys 14 (2011), meanwhile, lost in the Round of 32 after an undefeated run in the group stage, bowing to Latvia’s JDFS Alberts 2, 1-2.
Founded by Tomas Lozano, who pioneered youth football in the country in 1976, Makati FC has played a very important role in developing athletes in Philippines.
Since then, Makati FC has produced a lot of football stars who shone in domestic leagues and in international play./PN
