da brwin： Young footballers from around the world gathered in Istanbul for the Gatorade 5v5 Global Finals hoping to follow in the footsteps of previous winners
da betsson： It’s Champions League final day in Istanbul and a young goalkeeper is kneeling on the pitch, his head pointing to the sky, his eyes closed and his hands locked together. He is praying, asking for divine intervention in the game of his life after an epic journey to the final.
But it’s not Manchester City goalkeeper Ederson or Andre Onana of Inter who is kneeling. It is the young goalkeeper of Honduras AFFI and the stage is not the Ataturk Olympic Stadium but the UEFA Champions Festival and the last boys' match of the Global Finals, a grassroots tournament for boys and girls aged 14 to 16.
To the teenager praying for help in the imminent penalty shootout, it is just as important as the match City and Inter will play that evening. He and his team, began their journey in Honduras, winning their local five-a-side tournament and then becoming the national champions.
That earned them a place in the final tournament in Istanbul. For some, it was their first trip abroad. Over two days of intense matches at a training centre owned by Turkish giants Fenerbahce, they booked their place in the boys’ final against a team from Thailand.
GettyPlaying for Champions League final tickets
Thailand take the lead with an early goal on the counterattack immediately after Honduras have hit the post. The Latin American side equalise right before half-time though and the match ends 1-1. A penalty shootout is needed.
As well as the prestige of winning a global tournament, there is an added incentive for the four finalists: the winners will go to the Champions League final.
The goalkeeper’s prayers are answered as he makes two saves in the shootout. His team-mates think they have won after his second save but the referee informs them they have one more penalty to take, and it is the goalkeeper who must take it.
Both sets of teams huddle together, and the goalkeeper, still wearing his gloves, steps up. When the ball hits the net there is an eruption of joy from his team-mates. The Thailand players sink to the floor.
The girls' final is played immediately after and Club De Lo Prado from Chile are crowned champions after beating a team from Venezuela, also coming from behind in the final to win.
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With such emotion on display, it is little wonder that Mark Kirkham, PepsiCo's Chief Marketing Officer, calls the tournament “one of the most special things we do”.
The tournament began in Latin America in 2015 and was brought to Europe for the first time in 2016, coinciding with the Champions League final in Milan.
The Finals have followed football’s biggest match around since, and in 2019 a total of 56,000 children participated in the event from local level all the way to the finals. The only exceptions were the 2020 and 2021 finals due to coronavirus restrictions.
“Covid had a negative effect but we never wanted to let it go, grassroots football is too important,” Kirkham adds. “We don't even sell Gatorade in Turkey but it doesn't matter, what's important is that Gatorade is creating opportunities for these kids.”
Getty 'Ancelotti is a great human being'
Kirkham has just addressed the young footballers alongside Andriy Shevchenko, a Champions League winner in 2003 with AC Milan and former Ballon d’Or Winner.
Shevchenko, who says playing in youth tournaments was a crucial part of his journey to becoming a professional footballer, was appointed as a 'confidence coach' and gave a passionate team talk to inspire the young players.
Shevchenko played for some of the most renowned coaches in football including Carlo Ancelotti and Jose Mourinho. But he named Valeriy Lobanovskyi, his former boss at Dynamo Kyiv, as his most inspiring coach.
"He’s a legend for Ukraine and a legend in world football. He brought discipline to my life, helping me understand that I am a role model, football players are very important figures in society. I understand the responsibility not only for myself, but the image for the country and the club," Shevchenko said.
The former striker also gave insight into why Ancelotti, who has won a record four Champions League titles, including the 2003 title with AC Milan alongside Shevchenko, has been so successful.
“Carlo Ancelotti is just a very nice and inspiring person. He is very charismatic and has a great relationship with the players, he’s amazing in the dressing room and creates a very good environment and chemistry with the team," he said.
"I learnt a lot about his style in dealing with the staff and how he motivated the players. Sometimes his role was to calm the players in a very difficult emotional moment, he’s a great human being and a great coach."
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As he watches the teenagers compete, Shevchenko is reminded of the youth tournaments he played in while growing up in Ukraine and aspiring to be a footballer.
"The competition means a lot. When I was growing up I always loved football, I grew [as a player] thanks to some similar tournaments," he told GOAL. "I was growing up in Ukraine and had a school tournament. I played for my school. This kind of opportunity was awesome. We could see potential players come out from this tournament.”
Shevchenko is right, and if previous years are anything to go by, he could well be looking at future stars of the game. A whole host of players have gone on to great things in men's and women's soccer after participating in Gatorade 5v5.
Goalkeeper Natalia Giraldo and midfielder Ilana Izquierdo have gone on to play for Colombia's senior team and have the chance to go to the Women's World Cup this summer. Mariana Zamorano plays for Colombian giants America de Cali along with Giraldo.
Alejandra Vanegas plays at college level in the US with the University of Central Arkansas. Juan Camilo Asprilla has represented Colombia's men's team at under-17 level.
Two players have gone on to thrive in futsal (indoor football): Harrison Santos plays for FC Barcelona while Simon Zapata is a Colombia international.