Young athletes from the Nacional Football School (U10) in Podgorica had the chance to compete in the renowned “Antalya Friendship Cup” tournament held in Antalya.

This international experience was invaluable for the kids, all of whom are 10 years old or younger. “The journey presented both challenges and excitement, with most of them flying for the first time. Staying in a luxurious five-star hotel and enjoying various amenities was further enhanced by our team’s outstanding performance, as we defeated opponents from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Poland in succession,” explains coach Nenad Laković.

“Notably, our boys, hailing from several streets in Blok pet and Tološi, triumphed over the well-regarded Wisla Kraków with a score of 2:0,” adds Laković.

Nacional ended up in second place after a penalty shootout against the home team. “We were ahead 2:0 until just a few minutes before the match concluded, when the Turkish referee intervened… However, I won’t dwell on that too much; these matches are about the experience rather than just the score. The boys have raised the cup, which feels as valuable as gold. For them and for me, it will always hold a golden significance because they truly earned it,” emphasizes Laković.

The feedback has been phenomenal.

“The organizers remarked that FK Nacional and its players displayed outstanding talent that captivated everyone, with many not even knowing where Montenegro is. This ultimately indicates that we are the real champions of the tournament. Our trip to Antalya was a tremendous success,” concluded Laković.

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