AIFF Media Team

NEW DELHI: All India Football Federation U-16 Regional Academy Boys finished the 19th International RKTVC BVO Tournament for U-16 Boys in fifth position after succumbing to defeats at the hands of PSV Eindhoven and KRC Genk here in Tiel on Sunday (August 17, 2014).

This was also their last match in Holland. They now return to India after having an experience of a lifetime where they took part in two international tournaments and played against some of the best youth teams in the business.

Apart from the tournaments, they have also played friendlies of which the highlight has been their impressive showing against German heavyweights FC Schalke 04, where they lost by a only a goal.

At the prestigious International Youth Tournament (HSV Odin 59’) in Heemskerk, the Boys who are based in Kalyani, West Bengal gave a good account of themselves by reaching the cross final against Israel’s most recognized team Maccabi Tel Aviv. They finally finished fourth after losing the cross final and then also going down narrowly in the third place clash against top Dutch outfit AZ Alkmaar.

Coming to this tournament, in the first match defending champions PSV stayed true to their reputation by going 2-0 up inside the first 20 minutes which is essentially the first half in this youth tournament courtesy to clinical strikes.

The Dutch heavyweights increased the margin post the breather and the final score was 3-0 in their favour.

KRC Genk, who were placed third after Day I fixtures, enhanced their superiority over the AIFF Boys in their tie winning the faceoff by a solitary goal in the second half.

Owing to two reversals on Day II, the Boys dropped a place from the first day to fifth spot behind runaway group leaders AZ Alkmaar, second PSV, FC Twente and KRC Genk. 

On Day I that is yesterday, the U-16 colts recorded an impressive victory over Dutch heavyweights FC Twente thanks to an exquisite first-half strike from Nijwm Muchahary. The Boys who form the core of the U-16 National Team drew and lost the other two matches of the day against RKTVC and AZ Alkmaar respectively with scorelines of 0-0 and 3-0.

The tournament’s format is one where the team who finishes top from both the groups will lock horns for the first prize with the second place teams vying for third place. Likewise teams finishing third will play for a fifth place finish.

Twelve teams were divided into two groups of six with the top two advancing to the semifinals. Match duration is 40 minutes.

AIFF’s U-16 boys were in group a along with Dutch outfits FC Twente, PSV Eindhoven, and AZ Alkmaar, Belgium’s KRC Genk, and RKTVC’s own team.

PSV Beat Rotterdam Feyenoord by a solitary goal last year to clinch the coveted crown.