Albion SC Team Competes in Mediterranean International Cup (MIC)
Youth Soccer Tournament News: American Youth Soccer Players Competing Abroad – The Mediterranean International Cup, known as the MIC, is one of the most well known grassroots football tournaments in Europe and probably in the world. Youth soccer teams from AFC Ajax Amsterdam, Atlético de Madrid, Manchester United FC and Arsenal FC come to compete in this tournament, which is held in the North East of Spain, in an area called Catalonia just outside of Barcelona. Internationally acclaimed, MIC is dedicated to the growth of the youth game on and off the field. This year, Cal South’s Albion SC U11/U12 Team traveled to Spain to participate in this soccer competition.
Noah Gins, Executive Director and Wayne Crowe, Director of Soccer at Southern California’s premier youth soccer club, Albion SC recently returned from competing in the prestigious Mediterranean International Cup (MIC) 15th edition. It was an amazing opportunity to broaden the horizons of their youth soccer players and meet world-class players … such as Lionel Messi.
“The soccer world is small in many respects,” says Gins. “I was able, through a friend who is a FIFA agent in Brazil, to make a call and the next thing we knew, we were meeting with Portuguese pro Pepe Costa who plays for Spain’s Real Madrid and the Portuguese National Team.
As the day unfolded, Wayne and I found ourselves watching the FC Barcelona first team train and then spent time with Neymar, Iniesta and the Great Messi. It was a day we will never forget. The greatest part about it is the door is now open for good and we have begun a good friendship.”
Here is a recap of their experience at the Mediterranean International Cup (MIC):
Diane Scavuzzo: Why did you select this tournament? The tournament promotes soccer as a unifying force — and to use football as a way to understand life through its values.
Wayne Crowe: Albion SC is always looking to challenge their players, teams and coaching staff and the MIC has been one on the radar for the last couple of years.
MIC is the international football tournament in Costa Brava, Spain for young players in which the best clubs and national teams of the world compete in four different age brackets.
Diane Scavuzzo: Which youth soccer teams traveled overseas to compete?
Wayne Crowe: The team was a majority of players from Albion SC BU11 White and the BU12 White and we competed in the MIC 15 2003 Bracket D
Diane Scavuzzo: How did the team perform?
Wayne Crowe: The team did very well competing with teams from around the world. We were pleased with their performance in Spain. It was also great to see a mix of two teams from the same club being able to play a good brand of soccer and be successful regarding the results.
In Spain, the team played 6 games, winning 5 of them against good opposition along the way. Before going into the tournament, we did not know how well we would do. Going into these unknown situations and taking the players, team and coach out of our comfort zone creates more opportunity to grow and develop.
It was a great experience playing in the Mediterranean International Cup. We came out pleased with our results in the MIC and look forward to taking teams there each year.
Diane Scavuzzo: What was the competition like?
Wayne Crowe: The competition varied from good to extremely good. We got the opportunity to play three youth clubs from Spain and three Professional Youth Teams. Getafe CF we beat 3-1, Alboraya UD we beat 3-0, then got the reward and the opportunity we wanted, to play Barcelona.
Diane Scavuzzo: Did you see any teams from Cal South during the tournament?
Wayne Crowe: Yes, we did see Strikers FC and TFA at the MIC. It was great to see all these teams from Cal South support each other and want their rival Southern California teams to be successful.
Diane Scavuzzo: What was the environment like?
Wayne Crowe: All the games were played in stadiums and at there was quite a crowd at some of the matches. The atmosphere was exciting.
Diane Scavuzzo: Is youth soccer different in Spain?
Wayne Crowe: It was interesting to speak with youth soccer coaches from around the world and watch their players. Some professional youth teams focus specifically on developing individual youth soccer players while other Spanish youth soccer clubs focus on a set style of play — regardless of the game situation.
Diane Scavuzzo: What do you believe your Albion SC players learned from competing in the MIC and traveling as a soccer team to Europe?
Wayne Crowe: The players grew and learned so much from the experience; from understanding the focus and attention required to the preparation needed while traveling and competing. The players learned how important it was to look after their body and deal with the time change as well as discovering the level of international completion.
We have seen the players who travelled come back with a self-determined focus to push themselves, continue to get better and take their game to the next level. International travel is a big part of the player development at Albion SC.
Diane Scavuzzo: Have you gone before to this tournament? Why did you bring this particular age group?
Wayne Crowe: This was the first time that we went to this tournament and it as a great experience; we took this age group, as we wanted our younger players to gain from this experience at the youngest of ages. We plan to continue to go as a club and put it on the calendar year after year at the U11/12 and U14/15 age groups.
Roster: Pablo Andrade, William Cherres , Noah Dougher, Angel Jaimes, Luis Lee, Ava Leota, Thomas Miller, Andrew Mitchell, John Paul Molina, Vance Peck, Gael Quintero, Evan Rotundo, Simon Sagal, Kai Walsh, Karl Weisenfield and Gabe Wiladsen.
