SAA Real Madrid-Miami U-10 Champions of the 2009 Donosti Cup.
The U-10 finally got the one that mattered. There season started way back in September, where they where guided by coach Daniel Rodriguez, still learning the basics of tactical soccer. The beginning of there season was full of many close games that usually ended in tie or close wins, but in that stage of there season everything was geared toward learning. They participated in many tournaments where they where always upset in the semi-final or finals by the same teams; Weston ManU or the arch rivals Key Biscayne Milan. This only served to drive and motivate the kids for more, and so they jumped up a level and began playing 8v8. Playing a year older did not slow down these talented and determined players and it only increased there level of play, but also culminated in heartbreaking losses in key moments. They lost in semi-finals in Disney, where undefeated in the Pace tournament but lost in the semi-finals. All of these experiences however prepared the team for what ultimately looking back was the real challenge. Thanks to Daniel Rodriguez the kids where able to learn an advanced style of soccer that would bring them to a point where they where prepared to compete in Spain versus some very talented teams. Libardo Perdigon took over the team in late May, and continued on with the project that was initiated many months ago. "El mister" with his vast experience and his lion-heart, injected his strong character on the players that would prove to be the catalyst that would break there curse.
The team traveled to San Sebastian, Spain where they would take part in a prestigious world-renowned international youth tournament the "Donosti Cup". Having gone through a whole season of very positive experiences our U-10 team was ready to represent our academy, our city , and most importantly themselves. They would face three teams in the first group Academia Cantolao from Peru, Kostkas M.B., and San Ignacio B.
In the first game they faced a very prestigous team la Academia Cantolao de Peru. Our team started very early in this game leading by two goals to nil going in to the first half. After the break Cantolao responded with a goal to cut the distances probably from a bit of complacency. However learning from there past experiences throughout the year they dispatched Cantolao with two more goals with the game ending in a win for Real Madrid-Miami by four to two with a consolation goal in injury time for Cantolao.
Kostkas would be the second team they would face and all seemed as though this would be a tough game. Kostkas had previously annihilated San Ignacio by the score of eleven to zero. This would not prove to deter our talented players and they quickly dispatched a good Kostkas team by three goals to zero.
Having completed there first two games with strong wins all was on track for an assured place in the quarter-finals. San Ignacio B being the weakest of the group would not pose any problems and the game ended with a score of seven to zero. Our boys would enter the quarter-finals with nine points form three wins with only two goals scored against and fourteen goals in favor.
The quarter-finals where by far the most important if not the toughest task our players would under-take. They would face Antiguoko K.E., a team that had scored thrity two goals in only three games and had yet to be scored on. A team that is an affiliate of Real Sociedad the professional team of San Sebastian where Mikel Arteta of Everton and Xabi Alonso of Liverpool once played. They game was very difficult and the heavily favored home team lead most of the game by one goal to zero. In the last five minutes of the game Teo Papazian leveld the game which sent them into the dreaded penalty shootout. The penalties would continues to be even until our extremely talented goalkeeper Johan Penaranda blocked a decisive penalty. Samuel Gonzalez one of the leaders of the squad would take the penalty and score to send Antiguoko home and our team into the Semi-finals.
The rest of the remaining two games which included the semi-finals and the finals would be a breeze. In the semis they faced St. Seurin Junior Jc from France and beat them by the score of five goals to one, a clear domination sending them into the fianl. The final would also be an easy game beating the runner-up Aldapeta B by the score of three goals to zero to be crowned champions of the 2009 Donosti Cup. The players where able to score a total of twenty three goals in six games with only conceding four total goals.
It is evident now looking back that this championship would be the title that the players craved and worked for and was clearly worth going through all the ups and downs throughout the whole season. Congratulations to all the players for there great effort in representing our club and city in such an important event.
Special Thanks to all the People involved in this effort:
*Coaches Libardo Perdigon and Daniel Rodriguez who guided and taught the players throughout the whole season.
*David Gonzalez for being an improtant link of communication between the parents and our organization.
*To all the Parents for believing in our academy and our coaching philosophy.
*To our President Dr.Ismael Roque-Velasco who sacrificed so much so that many of us could enjoy soccer in its most purest form.
and most of all to the real champions, THE PLAYERS:
Johan Penaranda
Alessandro Corghi
Renato Corghi
Teo Papazian
Miguel Alejandro Padrino
Miguel Angel Padrino "Ruli"
Adrian Pombo
Valentin Sabella
Jordi Avila
Samuel Gonzalez
