du LaLiga HPC U-14 team clinch IberCup

Dubai: du LaLiga High Performance Centre (HPC) announced on Monday that their U-14 team have won the IberCup, the top international youth football tournament, which took place this year in Spain between July 9-13.

The IberCup brought together the world’s strongest academies from across Europe, North and South America, Asia and Africa, providing youth the opportunity to face-off in a highly competitive 11-aside tournament.

This year witnessed the participation of top teams from Brazil, Spain, France, Portugal, Sweden, United States, Canada, Ukraine, Egypt, Morocco and Hungary, with du LaLiga HPC proving their might and bringing home the gold trophy to the UAE.  

With an undefeated winning streak throughout the tournament, du LaLiga HPC beat Canada’s Oakridges Knights Academy 2-0 in the finals. Both goals were scored by Man of the Match Nicolo Cugilanich, who netted a record 12 goals throughout the tournament.

Commenting on the results, du LaLiga HPC U-14 Coach Marcos Marin Gonzalez said: “We are incredibly proud of the du LaLiga HPC team. Our young players have proved that they can compete against the best academies in the world. We are grateful for the support of du in making such opportunities possible for talented young players to shine internationally.”

Gonzalez added: “With their commitment, dedication, strong team spirit and the professional mindset they have worked hard to acquire during the year-long training program at du Liga HPC, the sky is the limit for our young players.”

As the du LaLiga U-14 team returns home, the U-15, U-16 and U-17 teams are gearing up for travel to the annual La Liga Scouting Camp in Marbella, Spain on Aug.15 where they will play competitive matches against La Liga’s finest youth teams, including Real Betis, Sevilla, Malaga, under the watchful eyes of La Liga scouts looking to uncover the next football star.

du La Liga High Performance Centre is the first of its kind centre outside of Spain by La Liga, the world’s strongest league, providing the youth of the UAE with a unique opportunity to be discovered by La Liga scouts and trained to highest La Liga standards enabling them to join national or international clubs and teams. It has established a reputation for excellence since its establishment, winning the UAE National League Champions for three consecutive years. It is home to 150 high potential talent today, hand-picked from across the nation and has become a scouting ground for national and regional clubs and national teams.

To date 17 du La Liga HPC players have been invited for trials with Spanish La Liga clubs and 10 players have been awarded professional contracts with national teams as well as regional and local clubs including Shabab al Ahli Dubai, Al Nasr, Al Ain and Nejmeh Club in Lebanon.