Young Football Stars Claim Third Place in Prestigious Competition
Ljubuski FC’s U11 girls’ team has delivered an outstanding performance at the Football Fever Cup in conjunction with APIA Leichardt FC, securing an impressive third-place finish in what was only their second tournament appearance ever.
The young squad, buoyed by their maiden tournament victory in April, entered the competition with newfound confidence and immediately made their mark against some of the country’s most established footballing academies.
A Tournament of Two Halves
The opening day saw the girls produce a masterclass performance, recording three consecutive victories against elite full-time GJDL (Girls Junior Development League) squads. These remarkable results positioned Ljubuski FC as the surprise package of the tournament, with opponents and spectators alike taking notice of the emerging talent.
Day two brought different challenges as the team faced two narrow defeats, though their earlier performances had already secured their position as runners-up on the ladder and guaranteed progression to the semi-finals.
Heartbreak in the Final Moments
The semi-final proved to be a thrilling encounter that epitomised the fighting spirit of this young Ljubuski FC side. In a nail-biting contest, the girls battled courageously against APIA 11’s GJDL team, only to be denied a place in the final by a spectacular goal scored in the dying seconds of the match.
The heartbreak was evident as tears flowed amongst the young players, but their achievement in reaching the final four of such a prestigious tournament should not be understated. Remarkably, several of the squad’s standout performers are only nine years old, playing up an age group in the U11 competition.
Building Towards Greater Heights
This third-place finish serves as excellent preparation for the team’s next challenge: the Sydney International.
Cup in October – The four-day tournament will feature the finest female youth teams from across Australia, providing another opportunity for these young talents to showcase their abilities on a national stage.
Recognition and Gratitude
Head coach Corina Green Tiliacos, affectionately known as “Super Coach” by her players, and Mirko Puljic have been instrumental in the team’s rapid development. Their guidance and unwavering belief in the squad have been crucial factors in their tournament success.
Mirko Puljic coached the majority of Hurstville Zagreb girls for five years and is s=ll coaching a few of the original players in the Hurstville Zagreb 11A girls team, with the majority of that original team now playing at the higher GJDL level. As coach Mirko predicted five years ago, that team consisted of superstars in the making with potential for the Croatian national team or the Matildas.
Mirko’s roots trace back to Ljubuski, where both his parents were born. “I’m very, very proud to be a Ljubušak,” said Coach Mirko, beaming with pride about his Ljubuski FC team. “Five of the eleven girls in our squad have roots in Herzegovina, a few are from Croatia, and the rest are Australian. They even know some Croatian words they’ve learned from me as their coach.”
The achievement would not have been possible without the tremendous support from parents, supporters, and the club’s generous sponsors who have invested in these young athletes’ futures.
Generous Sponsorship Support
The club extends its heartfelt gratitude to the following sponsors who have provided essential backing:
– Peter & Adrian Puljic – Living Gems www.livinggems.com.au
– Nick Puljic – Xtreme Security Solutions xtremesecuritysolutions.com.au
– Mirko Puljic – Mirkom Group & Chalet Mirkom mirkom.com – chaletmirkom.com
– Luka Nizic – Kueng Edge Interiors kuttingedgensw.com
– Tony Mihaljevic – Hekka & Reo Guard reoguard.com.au
– Daren – Awesome Screen Printing for providing football backpacks awesomescreenprinting.com.au
– Trent Fasch – TJ Coffee House for additional backpack supplies
Additional Support Network
Special recognition goes to several individuals whose contributions have been invaluable:
– Ante Covic from 1863 Football for supplying jackets, polos, and puffers 1863football.com.au
– Adrian Bunoza from Arrow Sports for the complete jersey set arrowsport.com.au
– Tony Mihaljevic for his creative input on designs and logos
– Elvis Rajic for producing promotional content
– George Siganos – Siganos Accounting siganos.com.au
– Adrian Sicari – Ultra Building Co. www.ultrabuilding.com
Looking Ahead
As Ljubuski FC prepares for their third tournament appearance in October, the foundations have been laid for continued success. The combination of talented young players, dedicated coaching, strong community support, and generous sponsorship has created an environment where these football stars can continue to flourish.
The club’s message to APIA Leichardt FC says it all: “See you next year!” This is clearly just the beginning of what promises to be an exciting journey for Ljubuski FC’s U11 girls’ team.
Tournament three details will be announced shortly, but one thing is certain – these young legends are just getting started, and the football community will be watching with great interest to see what they achieve next.
