SILBERNER BUDENZAUBER a great success

Ten U13 teams took part in the first Silberner Budenzauber in Freiberg. The premiere was a success even without fans. By Steffen Bauer. Freiberg — No spectators, but a great atmosphere and exciting matches: that was organiser Andreas Gartner’s assessment after Thursday’s first tournament for junior players at the Ernst-Grube-Halle. “The boys had a lot of fun and played excellent football.” Ten teams travelled from places including Berlin, Erfurt, Halle and Frankfurt/Oder. Gartner praised their punctuality and enthusiasm, and said everything ran smoothly. The 3G rules applied to coaches and staff, while the children had been tested through their schools. After 27 matches of 12 minutes, VfL Halle’s U13 side won the final 1–0 against Chemnitzer FC, having beaten Dynamo Dresden 3–2 in a nine-metre shootout in the semi-final. FC Rot-Weiß Erfurt took third place with a 4–0 win over Dynamo. For Kim Seidel, the Christmas tournament was special: the young player from Langenau was the only girl in the tournament. The twelve-year-old, who had played football for six years, called it an early gift. “When do you get the chance to play against clubs like these? It was great,” said the seventh-grade Cottagymnasium pupil. Her DFB training-centre team from SV Fortuna Langenau finished a creditable seventh. Coach Uwe Nestler praised the team: they drew 1–1 with Dynamo Dresden, beat Berliner AK 1–0 and narrowly lost to Budissa Bautzen (1–2) and Erfurt (2–3). “I never thought we could compete so well,” he said. A 4–3 placing-match win against VfB Auerbach’s youth team provided a successful finish. Dynamo Dresden’s players also enjoyed themselves. Coach Alexander Kosbab called it a very well organised tournament and said he was glad it could take place. Indoor tournaments are valuable for technical and tactical development, said the 27-year-old, whose team had played in the NOFV talent league until November but still had gaps in its winter schedule. Erfurt coach Mathias Preuße said his team gladly accepted the invitation and 200 km journey. “We do not have many chances to play opponents like these.” The former East German top-flight club, which also spent two years in the second Bundesliga, lost its youth academy status after its senior team fell into amateur football. Freiberg mayor Sven Krüger opened the tournament. Gartner said the patron thanked the organisers for arranging an event at such a time and that the city gave its full support. Ten regional and national companies helped cover the €2,500 budget. “So many delighted children made all the effort worthwhile.” Final standings: 1 VfL Halle, 2 Chemnitzer FC, 3 Rot-Weiß Erfurt, 4 Dynamo Dresden, 5 Budissa Bautzen, 6 1. FC Frankfurt/O., 7 DFB training centre, 8 VfB Auerbach, 9 Berliner AK, 10 FSV Zwickau. Caption: Chemnitzer FC’s Ian Münnich (left) and VfL Halle’s Paul Pfeiffer met in the final of Freiberg’s first U13 Christmas tournament; Halle won narrowly, 1–0.