Though only one team, D.C. United, was crowned champion of the inaugural SUM U-17 Cup, all the teams and young players participating will leave Colorado with good memories from a positive experience.
The tournament, which featured 12 MLS U-17 youth development teams, wrapped up Thursday when the Black-and-Red defeated the Kansas City Wizards 3-0 on the stadium field at Dick's Sporting Goods Park.
"As the director of our youth development program, I couldn't be more proud of our players and our staff for the way we handled ourselves all week," said United director of youth development John Maessner. "I've got to thank MLS for what a fantastic job they did putting this thing together. We know it's going to grow and get better and better every year and we're looking forward to coming back every year. This, for the kids, it's just been an invaluable experience for them and our guys just showed up and did what they know how to do best."
Even though they were overwhelmed in the final, Kansas City coach Chris Sissell said that his players had a great showing overall.
"It's been unbelievable. It was a great experience for us. The whole week was fantastic. We got to play five matches against five great teams and we're really proud of our boys that we were able to get all the way to the final," Sissell said. "We won our group and won the semifinal so we went 3-1-1 while we were here. Obviously we would have liked to have done better and played better in the final but the whole experience and having this opportunity is first class and it shows the boys what it takes to play at the next level. We couldn't be happier about the way our guys competed all week."
The SUM U-17 Cup is just one part of Major League Soccer's commitment to growing the youth game in conjunction with the clubs that play at the highest level in the United States. While there is still much to be done, Maessner believes that MLS and the U.S. Soccer Federation are on the right track.
"I think that it's all very, very new for everyone. A lot of teams have barely even gotten started and a couple of teams haven't started at all yet. So this is just the beginning. It's very exciting times for everyone," he said. "We all get to start fresher but it's exactly what this country needs and it needs Major League Soccer, as it's doing, to step up and say this is what we're going to do: we're going to show the country and the world how we're going to start developing players. It starts right now. I think U.S. Soccer has done a great job to make up its mind and say this is the direction we're going in and D.C. United is right there. We want to lead the way."
Leading the way for United on the day was striker Chris Hegngi, who scored two goals to pace the Black-and-Red to the lifting of the cup.
"It feels great. I just want to help my team. I want to do my best to become a better player but to help my team is really what I want to do," said the Silver Spring, Md., product. "It's a great tournament. I hope to be here next year. It's just great competition."
If MLS can continue to improve its youth development systems and churning out quality players like Hegngi, then everybody's ultimate goal may be realized. Perhaps one day soon these youth players will make it back to Commerce City, but on the big stage as MLS All-Stars themselves.
Jonathan Nierman is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
