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2009 FC Barcelona Nike Cup

3rd Place

FC Manchester United U-9 Boys West Achieve First Victory in Barcelona Nike Cup Tournament

Written by Scott Kazarian

FC Manchester United’s newest member of the family, the U-9 Boys West, experienced the sweet success of its first victory after being together for only three months, placing 3^rd in the Barcelona Nike Cup held in San Bernardino over the August 29^th weekend. Suited in their newly acquired uniforms, the boys weathered 112-degree temperatures and pulled off its first win in a 4-2 challenge against the Aztecs FC.

Lead by Coach Susano Lopez, the team was assisted by FC Man U Coach Merlyn Baltodano, who guided the boys to their win. With the score tied 2-2 at half-time, Coach Merlyn instructed the boys to ask themselves, “what is the game telling you to do,” inspiring them to make smart decisions on the field. With those words in mind, the boys settled into their roles, creating more space and working more cohesively with each other, allowing them to control the midfield and keep play on their opponent’s turf. The result was the team’s first win with feelings of elation in, both, the boys and their parents.

After the game, Coach Merlyn echoed the words of Coach Susano urging the parents to be patient with the process. “While everybody loves to win, this is a 2 to 3 year project,” he said, “where we help the boys to develop their skill and learn to work together as a team. We’re interested in the long-term success of our players.” The boys will be wrapping up one more week of indoor soccer conditioning before beginning league play on September 12^th.