Ferencvaros have won the 11th edition of the International Preliminary Tournament – Memorial A. Gianfranceschi and A. Gradizzi in Bardolino. The Magyars topped an extremely balanced final group stage, finishing ahead of Genoa and Parma at the end of three days that saw 30 teams compete — 12 of them international and 12 from Italian professional football — with 450 players going head to head in front of a crowd of more than 3,000 spectators over the three days.
Ferencvaros built their victory on a resolute defence anchored by their goalkeeper, who was awarded the best goalkeeper prize for the entire tournament. The team conceded just 2 goals throughout all their matches. In the first game of the final group stage they drew 0–0 against Genoa, while in the decisive final match against Parma a single goal was enough to claim the trophy.
Alongside the performances on the pitch, special recognition goes to the entire organisational team made up of many volunteers, and in particular to the invaluable support provided by the IPSAR Luigi Carnacina Hotel and Catering School of Bardolino, which served 500 meals a day in under two hours to all participating teams, players and coaching staff alike.
Finally, during the last day of the tournament, a minute of silence was observed in memory of Alex Zanardi, Italian racing driver turned Paralympic athlete, universally regarded as a worldwide symbol of resilience, courage and determination.
Award winners
In addition to the winning team, the following individual awards were presented:
– Ali Jooma (Futboltec Sydney, Australia – Best Player of the Tournament)
– Sandor Mor (Ferencvaros – Hungary – Best Goalkeeper)
– Riccardo Ruggiero (Parma – Best Midfielder)
– Tommaso Massobrio (Genoa – Best Defender)
– Yehor Pidvysdtsky (Shakhtar Donetsk, Ukraine – Youngest Player)
– Ella Wallace (Adelaide Elite Football Academy – Australia – Only Female Player in the Tournament)
– Futboltec Sydney (Australia) – Best Style of Play
– Braga (Portugal) – Fair Play Award
Qualification for the International Tournament
By winning the tournament, Ferencvaros have also earned a place in the 13th edition of the Torneo Internazionale Città di Bardolino – Memorial Helena e Germano Chincherini, taking place next weekend (8–9–10 May). This year’s edition will feature 24 teams: Ajax, Arsenal, Atalanta, Atletico Madrid, Chelsea, China Football Boy, Feyenoord, Fiorentina, KRC Genk, Hellas Verona, HJK Helsinki, Hungary Selection, Inter, Juventus, Liverpool, Manchester United, Milan, Paris Saint-Germain, Porto, Roma, Australian Selection, the local side Baldo Junior Team — and this year’s major newcomer: Real Madrid.
Freestyle World Champion Davide Pisani at the Tournament Presentation
As always, the evening before the tournament kicks off will feature a parade and presentation of all the participating teams, each accompanied by their club anthem. This year will also include a performance by Freestyle World Champion Davide Pisani and his team.
Live results and streaming
In addition to real-time updates on the tournament’s official website, fans can follow all the action from home: the entire International Tournament will be broadcast live on the YouTube channel Avelia HD, with coverage across all three pitches. A dedicated TikTok channel will also stream the event for audiences in China.
