Kevin De Bruyne welcomes more than 12,000 visitors at home club KVE Drongen during football festival for big and small.
The football stars of tomorrow? You could spot them last weekend in Drongen. More than 12,000 football fans - a record number - signed present there during the 7the KDB Cup, an international youth tournament that has become the annual appointment for young football stars (U15). Kevin De Bruyne, after whom the tournament was named, also came to soak up the atmosphere at the KVE Drongen grounds on Sunday as a Drongen native and former player of the club: "What a festival of football! It's a bit of coming home for me every time". One hundred children were surprised with a 'golden ticket' and could have their picture taken with the Manchester City midfielder. Of the 12 participating teams, including four Belgian teams, Manchester City went home with the trophy for the first time in five years. Manchester United crowned itself the sportiest team of the tournament and received the Fairplay. This year, the trophy for the 'Most Valuable Player' (MVP), selected by a panel of (inter)national scouts, went to Gianluca Okon of Club Brugge.
More than 12,000 visitors, 350 volunteers, 220 youth players and 70 coaches, 70 national and international scouts, 30 matches and no fewer than 90,000 football fans who followed the tournament - via the latest VEO-CAM3 technology - online in 110 countries worldwide. With such figures and with top teams such as FC Barcelona, Manchester City, Chelsea and, for the first time, Manchester United on the bill, the KDB Cup has become one of the most important events in European youth football. And Paul Naudts, founder and chairman of the KDB Cup since 2016, is particularly proud of that:
"We are already looking back on another successful weekend of football with exciting matches and above all a fantastic atmosphere, both for the players and the visitors. The fact that the boys get the chance to play against international teams here is unique. And that is apparently known worldwide, if you see that the final match was followed live by 10,000 online viewers in 110 countries," gloats Paul Naudts, president of the KDB Cup. "Setting up an event like this is obviously only possible thanks to the efforts of those 350 volunteers and the commitment of our sponsors. Yes, here stands a very grateful chairman!"
Manchester City win the Cup and Gianluca Okon becomes 'Most Valuable Player'
Twelve teams competed against each other, including four Belgian ones: Racing Genk, Club Brugge, Anderlecht and AA Gent. The eight foreign U15 teams represented the biggest clubs in the world: FC Barcelona (Spain), SE Palmeiras (Brazil), Manchester City FC (United Kingdom), Chelsea FC (United Kingdom), PSV Eindhoven (Netherlands), RB Leipzig (Germany) and for the first time also Manchester United (United Kingdom) and Rangers FC (Scotland/the team where Philippe Clement is head coach).
In an exciting final match between KAA Gent and Manchester City, led by top referee Bram Van Driessche, Manchester City proved the strongest: the team where De Bruyne now plays won 2-1 over KAA Gent, where De Bruyne once played in youth. In the last minute, City just managed to prevent the 2-2. The euphoria on the pitch and stage was great!
Midfielder Gianluca Okon, son of former Golden Shoe Paul Okon, was voted best player of the tournament. The number 6 of Club Brugge filled his central role perfectly. Lucas Alvadaro of Manchester City was the best goalkeeper. Top marksman was Floyd Samba of Manchester City, with 4 goals in 4 games.
Manchester United won the Fairplay Award and received the trophy from Bob Browaeys, director of Sport at Football Flanders. Football Flanders has been promoting fairplay in football for years. Earlier this year, together with singer Metejoor, they launched the awareness campaign 'The sideline', in which they call on footballers and supporters to refrain from aggression on and off the pitch, especially in youth football.
De Bruyne: "Coming home to this football party!"
In addition to the top football, visitors could also enjoy an animated top event this year: a social gathering for big and small, with food trucks, bouncy castles, game consoles and a 3,000m² 'Fun area'.
Among those present were some well-known (former) footballers and coaches, such as Oleg Iachtchouk, Alin Stoica, Sven Vermant, Paul Okon, Geert De Vlieger, Koen Daerden, Frédéric Dupré and none other than Wayne Rooney, who came to support his son. He finished with Manchester United in eighth place The star of the weekend was of course Kevin De Bruyne himself. Besides supporting KAA Gent and Manchester City, who played the final match, he also took time to greet fans, hand out autographs and have his picture taken with them. Brothers Lucas (10) and Jasper (7) Kivit from Oud-Turnhout were surprised the morning itself with one of the 100 'golden tickets'. This allowed them to have their picture taken with De Bruyne and experience the day of their lives:
"I opened the envelope and... I was really super happy. I yelled really loud even," Jasper says beaming. "I wished him success at the European Championship. I'm going to put the autograph in my room now."
De Bruyne also still calls the KDB Cup "a high day'" for themselves:
"I am really enjoying here. It is particularly nice to see so many happy football fans, what a great atmosphere it is here again! I was able to catch a few games too. Then again, the final was between Manchester City and KAA Gent, where I used to play. Really fantastic! I would also like to thank all the volunteers who help make this possible. Thank you all!"
