Makati FC finished a fighting second against home sides in the Paris World Games over the weekend.
With the world-famous Eiffel Tower serving as backdrop, Makati FC's Boys 14 (2006) turned to Bacolod native Lance Locsin in a 1-2 defeat to CFFP Paris in the championship match at the Stade Emile Anthoine 1.
Julio Yoldi, a Philippine U13 team standout who is a pride of Dumaguete, also found the back of the net as Makati FC's Boys 13 (2005) gave US Villejuif fits before dropping a 1-2 loss at Stade Emile Anthoine 1.
Still, Makati FC's two teams' showing will serve in good stead heading into the Gothia World Youth Cup which starts today in Gothenburg, Sweden.
Makati FC's Boys 14 (2006) made it to the knockout stages after topping the Group B table with maximum nine points. They made it all the way to the final, after beating France's JSC Pitray Olier (3-0), Bibo Football Academy (2-0), United States' XL National Boys (4-0), and La Tamponnaise (2-0).
Not to be outdone was Makati FC'S Boys 13 (2005), which made it to the playoffs after reaching first place in Group C with nine points. On the way to the final, it topped Bangladesh's Banglore Academy (16-0), France's JSC Pitray Olier White (9-0), Turkey's Aci Genclik Spor Kulub (2-0), France's CFFP Paris (2-1), and Canada's Faly Academy (2-1).
"Best thing about this tournament was the level of football games our teams got to play. All the games were very tough and the opponents were very strong. And for our teams to play on the same level of competition, is proof that this program is getting us closer to our goal of making these kids world-class athletes," said Makati FC chief executive officer SeLu Lozano.
"The size difference and the advantage physically of the teams our kids played against were big takeaways, having them exposed to that as early as now," he added.
Makati FC will make its 37th consecutive stint in the Gothia Cup, with over 70 players five teams (Boys 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, and Girls 2005).
The world’s largest youth football tournament, the Gothia Cup has around 1,700 teams from 80 countries take part each year, playing 4,500 games on 110 fields.