BALLAZ Academy got their USA Cup campaign off to a solid start — highlighted by a second-place finish at the tournament’s Weekend competition — and will be joined by several other Jamaican teams as the event moves into their main Weeklong schedule today at the 50-field National Sports Centre in Blaine, Minnesota.

Ballaz’s Under-11 Boys made it to the final at the precursor Weekend warm-up tournament, losing out 5-2 to Georgia-based team Los Amigos, the number one-ranked team in their State and a top-ranked team in the United States.

Earlier, the team defeated Mankato United 7-0 in their opening match before also brushing aside Orland Park Sting FC by a similar scoreline. They then got the better of Magic City 5-0 before falling 5-2 to Los Amigos in their final group game, after conceding three penalties.

Ballaz Under-11 player Jace Lowe (left) in action during the final of the USA Cup Weekend tournament at the National Sports Centre in Minnesota, USA. (Photo: 867Stream)

They bounced back with a 3-1 win over Gladiators FC in the semi-finals before again facing Los Amigos in the finale, where they repeated the result and scoreline from their previous meeting.

Ballaz Academy Director Andre Virtue was pleased with the teams’ performance over the weekend and is now looking forward to the opportunities for development and success in the Weeklong tournament.

Ballaz Academy Director Andre Virtue (Photo: 867Stream)

“Having taken the Weekend as a preparation for the Weeklong tournament it was good for the boys, the coaches, the management team, to have gone through all the logistics of moving the players from dorm to field, the different field locations. I think it was great for us all as a team to have gotten that experience and exposure. It was obviously a good thing for the U11s to come away with a medal and for the quarter-finals appearance for the U13 team. A lot of lessons learnt and it was good for the boys to have been able to adapt to the environment,” Virtue said.

“We are excited for the opportunity; the more football that is played, the more exposure that these boys get to play against different teams with different systems and approaches, this will only help. We have an objective to take our players to the next level and provide the environment where they will be challenged.

“The USA Cup provides a very good backdrop of exposure for the players and, you know, our participation in the Gold category is very important. We could come here to participate and win games, and, you know, not be challenged but we want to put them in the Gold category where they’re going to play against the best teams. We have teams from South America, we have teams from the US here, and it will give us that opportunity for the players to do that.”

Ballaz also travelled with an Under-13 Boys’ team which progressed to the quarter-finals of their competition in the Gold category, losing 3-0 to Glen Ellyn Lakers.

In their earlier games they drew 1-1 with Bonivital SC, defeated Superior Rush 6-0, and got the better of Gladiators 4-1 before losing in the knockout stages.

Ballaz Under-13 player Jude Davis in action at the USA Cup Weekend tournament at the National Sports Centre in Minnesota, USA. (Photo: 867Stream)

The USA Cup, which was first held in 1985, is one of the largest youth football tournaments in the world, bringing together over 1,200 male and female teams from 17 countries.

Matches are contested in age groups ranging from Under-9 to Under-19, and skill levels designated under Gold, Silver, Bronze, and in some instances, Copper.

The Jamaican representation in Minnesota will increase in the Weeklong main draw with Norbrook Strikers, Benders Football Academy (U12), Charltons Academy (U12, U19), Genesis Academy (U12, U14), Kingston Football Academy, Young Lions and Lionesses, Excelsior High School (U17 boys), Manchester High School (U19).

Genesis Academy, based in Manchester, will feature three teams: a mixed U16 (Silver) team, a boys’ U14 (Bronze), and a boys’ U12 (Silver), and the man behind the organisation, Andrew Edwards, is also looking forward to what is ahead.

“It’s an extremely huge tournament, great atmosphere, great environment, and an absolutely awesome experience for the kids. We have three teams and then we have six girls who are playing as guest players with two teams and, so far, the kids have been having a lot of fun. They’re playing some good football; we have enjoyed mixed results but what I can say is that the experience, I don’t think we can quantify the experience,” said Edwards.

Norbrook Strikers will compete in the boys’ Under-10 (Gold), Under-11 (Gold), Under-12 (Gold), Under-14 (Bronze) and will feature on a mixed Under-16 team with Genesis Academy, in the Silver category.

Benders will feature in the Boys’ Under-12 Bronze category while Charltons Academy will compete in the Silver category in the Boys’ Under-12 and Boys’ Under-19 age groups.

Excelsior will play in the Boys’ Under-17 Silver category and Manchester High will play in the under-19 boys’ Gold category.

Kingston Football Academy has travelled with the largest contingent from Jamaica and will have a gold and a silver team in the Boys’ Under-12 age group; a silver and bronze team in the Boys’ Under-15 category; Boys’ Under-15 and Under-16 teams in the Silver category; and a Boys’ Under-17 team that will compete in the Gold category.