Back in June, ANZA Soccer embarked on an exhilarating journey to the Bangkok International Youth Cup, also known as the Bangkok 7s. Held over the first weekend of the month, this tournament welcomed 70 teams from across Asia and Southeast Asia, showcasing some of the best young football talent the region has to offer.
Naturally, being fans of an international competition and having already ventured to Chiang Mai, Pattaya and Johor Bahru this season, ANZA Soccer were part of the sea of young stars eager to test their skills on the pitch. We proudly entered eight teams ranging from U8 to U14, including both boys and girls teams.
The tournament saw over one hundred ANZA players in action, with an additional highlight being the ANZA Legends – an enthusiastic squad of dads who took on a team of local school fathers and teachers, much to the delight (and cringe!) of the younger players.
Camaraderie
Travel arrangements for the event were a community affair, with our Singapore-based families flying into Bangkok after school and work on Friday. The majority of the ANZA contingent were spotted on popular flights out, and we apologise for the noise should any fellow passengers be reading this now.
The group stayed at the same hotel, which fostered a sense of camaraderie with everyone being in one location – the kids loved being near to their friends. Everyone enjoyed meeting up after games, swimming in the pool and sharing dinner and drinks as an ANZA family.
The tournament took place at KMITL University Bangkok, a short drive from Suvarnabhumi Airport. The format included a series of competitive matches that tested the skills and teamwork of all participants. ANZA’s performance was notable, with several teams achieving impressive results: the U10 Girls and U10 Boys both claimed championship titles in their respective divisions, while the U12 Girls secured a bronze finish. The U14 Girls were runners-up in the Plate competition, and the U16 Girls earned third place.
“Players and parents alike savoured the shared success”
Celebratory gathering
A fantastic moment came when the U10 Boys yellow team clinched the Cup Championship and the ANZA Legends engaged in a thrilling 90-minute draw against the BKK Dads.
The trip concluded with a celebratory shindig at the hotel’s lobby bar and restaurant, where players and parents alike savoured the success. As always, a big shout out goes to all of the ANZA parent volunteers who worked hard to co-ordinate the flights, hotel and registrations.
The highlight of the trip was seeing all the smiling faces of the teams who showed up to play their best and have a fun time on and off the pitch. The joy and enthusiasm displayed created lasting memories for all.
Looking ahead, ANZA Soccer hope even more teams will participate in future international tournaments, and aim to build on the success and camaraderie experienced in Bangkok.
GIRLS
- U10 Shield Winners
- U12 Shield Winners
- U14 Plate Runner Up
- U16 3rd Place
BOYS
- U8 Runner up Cup (2nd)
- U10 ANZA 1 Cup Champions
- U10 ANZA 2 Shield Champions
- U12 Bronze (3rd place)
