Belarus plays host to future stars
Monday, March 1, 2010
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The latest edition of the UEFA-backed Minsk international indoor youth tournament was won by Russia who edged out their Belgium Under-17 counterparts in the final.
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The Belarusian capital Minsk hosted the sixth edition of the international indoor youth tournament which received the backing of European football's governing body.
UEFA general secretary Gianni Infantino sent a special welcome message for participants in the Under-17 showpiece which was won by Russia amid competition from Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova and Ukraine.
The eight-team tournament, held between 10 and 17 January, had opened with an eye-catching ceremony featuring music and lights, in the form of a laser show.
In addition to the UEFA general secretary's recorded message, Liutauras Varanavicius, president of the Lithuanian Football Federation (LFF) and a UEFA Executive Committee member, Gennady Nevyglas, president of the Football Federation of Belarus (BFF), and Nikolay Ladutko, acting mayor of Minsk, also lent their support to the event.
Russia beat Belgium 2-0 in the final, after the eventual champions had topped a Group B featuring Azerbaijan, Latvia and Moldova while the Belgians took the Group A honours ahead of Belarus, Lithuania and Ukraine. A youthful Ukrainian side claimed third place by overturning a two-goal deficit to defeat Moldova 4-2.
The individual awards for the tournament's outstanding performers went to: Russia goalkeeper Aleksey Berezin, Belgium defender Brice Ntambwe, Ukraine midfielder Vladlen Urchenko and Russia forward Semion Sinavsky.