The team arrived in Belgium on Monday 17 August, landing at Brussels Airport before heading for lunch. Afterwards, the players took part in their first training session of the tour at the Beerschot Complex, getting straight into their preparations for the week ahead. The day came to an end with dinner and an opening team meeting, where the coaches discussed the programme and what to expect during the days ahead.

Tuesday continued with another training session as the players worked towards the upcoming tournament. In the afternoon, the team took some time away from football to explore the city of Antwerp and enjoy some relaxation together

On Wednesday morning, the squad returned to the pitch for another training session. With the tournament getting closer, the focus was on preparing as well as possible. In the evening, the players faced Royal Antwerp FC in a friendly match, putting the lessons from training into practice.

Thursday started with another training session before the team travelled to Brussels in the afternoon for a stadium tour of the King Baudouin Stadium. It was a great opportunity to experience one of Belgium’s well-known football venues while also taking some time to relax.

Friday was the final preparation day before the tournament. The team took part in a triangular practice tournament alongside FC Toreros and SV Zulte Waregem. The matches provided a good final test and allowed the players to enter the Beerschot Tournament well prepared.

The first tournament day began early on Saturday, with the team arriving in time at the Beerschot Complex for their opening match against KAA Gent at 10:30. After some time to recover, the second game followed against Borussia Mönchengladbach at 12:30. After lunch, the players returned to the pitch for their final match of the day against Vitesse. It was a full day of football and new experiences, followed by dinner together with the other participating teams.

On Sunday, the team began the final tournament day against Danish side Gentofte. The match required plenty of energy, making the following lunch a welcome break before the final fixture of the weekend. The last game was against FC Toreros, a familiar opponent from the practice tournament earlier in the week. The team finished the tournament with a victory before taking part in the award ceremony and returning to the hotel for their final evening.

The Beerschot Tournament Tour was a valuable experience both on and off the pitch. Throughout the week, the players learned from their coaches, from each other and from every opponent they faced. The positive atmosphere within the group made the experience even more enjoyable and helped strengthen the team spirit.

With plenty of football, new challenges and shared memories, Coach Alex U12 can look back on a successful week in Belgium.