Aztecs On Tour: Southampton Aztecs Take Historic Bronze in the Czech Republic
- British Football Coaches Network
- 3 days ago
- 2 min read
We did it! The Aztecs made history as the first English team to take part in the Vánoční turnaj (Christmas Tournament) in Uherský Brod, Czech Republic, and we proudly brought home the bronze medal.
This annual tournament in Moravia attracts top teams from the region and beyond. The Aztecs competed against 25 teams, including champions such as Slovakia's Spartak Myjava and the Czech powerhouse FC Slovan Liberec. Our invitation and participation were a first for English futsal and brought fresh energy to the event.
Futsal Focus Leads to Historic Bronze
When we stepped onto the court, we did more than play; we represented English futsal on an international stage once more, and our core discipline underpinned our success as a dedicated futsal team.
The local Czech press highlighted our specialised advantage: our familiarity with the indoor game, combined with our "organised play, focus, and enormous commitment," gave us the edge needed to compete against top European teams and secure a remarkable third-place finish!
A significant highlight of the competition was our intense clash against FC Slovan Liberec in the final group stage. It was Liberec’s first time in Uherský Brod, and they brought top players like Kateřina Vithová (best player) and Michaela Ferencová (top scorer). Our hard-fought draw with them was key as it kept Liberec from winning gold and helped us secure the bronze.
The tournament was ultimately won by the Slovak top-division leaders Spartak Myjava, who claimed their fifth title in the last six years.
Final standings (Top Five):
1. Spartak Myjava women
2. FC Slovan Liberec women
3. Southampton Aztecs
4. FC Slovácko women
5. DFA Hrobce
Our Czech Scoring Stars
We are immensely proud of every player who contributed to this historic tournament run. Several Aztecs etched their names into the club’s international record books by becoming our first goal scorers in the Czech Republic:
Nicki Curtis had the honour of scoring the first-ever goal for the Aztecs in the Czech Republic.
Jade Grove, our summer signing, became our top scorer in the Czech Republic, netting four goals in her first "Aztecs On Tour" experience.
Rebekah Tonks, Laura Ingram, and Ayuma Asira also added their names to the Czech scoring list.
A New Chapter for the Aztecs
This experience was priceless for our players, giving them a chance to face strong competition in an international setting during the holidays. The tournament brought together Czech and Slovak teams and gave us a great opportunity to show what focused, organised futsal can achieve.
This journey demonstrates how much the Southampton Aztecs have grown and how ambitious we are. Being the first English team to compete and securing a bronze medal immediately speaks volumes about the hard work and spirit of our players, coaches, and supporters.
We want to thank the organisers in Uherský Brod for their warm hospitality and for inviting us to join their special tradition. The lessons we learned, the friendships we made, and the history we created will inspire us as we continue to grow as a club.
All our games from the tournament can be viewed on our YouTube channel.
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