Basking in the euphoria of a 2-1 victory in their debut match against Casarano U19 at the 75th edition of the Viareggio Youth Tournament in Italy, Coach Henshaw Bisoye and Kalu Chisom believe Magic Stars have the potential to advance further in the competition.
Chisom made history by becoming the first player from the Lagos-based Nationwide League One team to score in the prestigious Viareggio Cup, while Henshaw earned the distinction of being the first coach to lead the team to victory.
In a separate media chat from Italy, “”I felt immense relief and joy after achieving my first international win with the Magic Stars. In my pep talk before the game, I emphasized to my team that football is a universal language, regardless of whether the opposing side is from Africa or Europe. However, the approach we take is crucial, said Henshaw.
“Just ten minutes into the match, I made sure that the excitement didn’t overwhelm my team. I encouraged my players to demonstrate the quality they possess, and at the end our efforts were rewarded with a goal in each half.
” In the end, it was a great victory for us, and this will provide the team with a mental edge as we move forward.”
For Chisom, “Scoring Magic Stars’ debut goal in the Viareggio Cup gave me goosebumps, and I felt a rush of excitement. It’s a moment I will always cherish and remember vividly.
“It was a perfect start for both my teammates and me, especially since we were competing against one of the best youth teams at the international level. In the end, this achievement serves as a significant morale boost for us as we prepare for the upcoming games.”
Next up for Magic Stars is a Wednesday Matchday 2 fixture against APIA Leichhardt FC from Sydney, Australia, who lost 4-0 to Sassuolo in their opening game. The match is scheduled for 2:30pm at the Marco Polo Sports Centre.
