Local football club, 345 FC, recently concluded a successful campaign at the Weston Cup and Showcase in Florida – the state’s largest football tournament.
The 345 FC squad was represented by four teams – two under-11, one under-10, and one under-9 – within the tournament’s field of more than 1,000 teams.
The four teams were made up of 40 players between the ages of 8 to 11 who travelled to Miami to compete in the event hosted from 14-16 Feb.
The tournament offered five levels of competition which included MLS Next, Showcase, Gold, Silver and Bronze for under-9 through under-19 boys’ and girls’ teams.
Tournament placements for the Cayman teams consisted of the under-9’s in bronze, the under-10’s in silver, and the under-11 squads split between the silver and bronze divisions.
Final matches
The club’s performance resulted in an undefeated record across the weekend with the teams collectively securing 14 victories and one draw.
Three of the four squads won their respective championship divisions, while the fourth team secured a third-place finish.
Each team competed in three group-stage matches before advancing to their final matches.
In the under-9 division, 345 FC secured the title with a commanding 8-3 victory over FC Stars while the under-10 squad claimed their championship with a 3-2 win against Key Biscayne SC.
In the last game of the weekend for the Cayman boys, the under-11 Silver squad faced SFC New England in a challenging matchup. Following a 5-5 draw at the end of regulation time, the game moved to a penalty shootout with the 345 FC squad winning the shootout 4-3 to secure the division title.
Coaches’ feedback
“The results speak for themselves, to win every game across all teams is spectacular,” said head coach Peter Reijn.
“But success at 345 FC isn’t measured solely in wins – it’s measured in the integrity, effort, and growth of every player who steps onto the field,” he added.
With over 100 people traveling from Cayman with the club, Reijn reflected on the growth of the club saying, “Over the past five years, 345 FC has grown considerably, and this year marked a milestone: the club’s largest traveling contingent to the USA since May 2022.”
Joining Reijn on the trip were fellow 345 FC coaches Jonah Ebanks, James Hagerty, and Jelle de Groot.
“We’re proud of how far our players and club have come. We look forward to building on this solid foundation and continuing to create opportunities for success – both on and off the pitch,” said the coaching team.
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