We are proud to announce that 17-year-old goalkeeper Igor Kostenko and his team Benfica U17 secured victory at the prestigious Youngster Cup 2024, held in Germany on August 3rd and 4th. This tournament marked the final note of the team's preseason preparation before the start of the new National Championship season. Igor participated in the tournament wearing Brave GK Venom 2024 gloves.
The tournament, organized by 1. FC Union Berlin, brought together strong youth teams from around the world, including clubs such as Juventus Turin, Flamengo Rio de Janeiro, Liverpool, Basel, Real Sociedad, Olympique Marseille, and others. The matches were held at the An der Wuhlheide stadium and the new Oberspree training center, adding an extra atmosphere to the event.
In the final, Benfica Lisbon faced Flamengo Rio de Janeiro and secured a confident 4-1 victory. The match started with a quick goal from Benfica, where a low cross from the wing was finished with a precise shot from the five-meter area, opening the score in their favor. However, the Brazilians did not give up and soon responded with a successful attack, leveling the score.
The game continued in a tense battle, but Benfica continued to demonstrate their strength. After a long pass, Flamengo's defender made a mistake, allowing Benfica's forward to reach a striking position and score the second goal. In the final 15 minutes, the Portuguese intensified their pressure, launching a series of attacks that resulted in a precise shot to the bottom left corner and then a header goal after a corner kick.
Now, after this triumph, the Benfica U17 team is preparing for the start of the National Championship, where they will face Sporting on August 10th at Benfica's first campus field. We are proud that our gloves supported Igor Kostenko on his way to this triumph and were part of his success on the international stage.
Benfica is a club with a rich history and many titles. Their academy is renowned for producing talented players, many of whom go on to become global football stars. The Benfica U17 team is one of the strongest youth teams in Europe. Playing for this club, Igor Kostenko has a unique opportunity to develop his skills under the guidance of top coaches. In Benfica U17, players undergo rigorous training, which enables them to achieve victories in major tournaments such as the Youngster Cup. Experience in such a club opens the way for Kostenko to a successful professional career.
