Ascent Soccer have written a piece of their own history after winning the 2023 Rey Cup after beating Trottur 1-0 in Iceland on Sunday.
Mwisho Mhango scored the only goal of the match.
On their way to the final, Ascent Soccer beat UK professional league one side Fleetwood Town 3-0.
The Malawian side beat America’s AC Connecticut 5-0 in the quarter-finals.
Ascent Soccer won all matches in Iceland including group stage matches and knockout ones.
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The Academy’s founder George Maguire said he was impressed with the team’s performance during the tournament.
“It is fantastic to see the boys motivated and playing both effective and attractive football on the European stage. Whilst the results are pleasing, the experience and exposure to the sport and life in another country and culture is of massive value to our academy squad members, both on and off the pitch,” Maguire said.
He said the team was heading in the right direction after making history.
“To win at a European tournament at the first time of asking is our biggest achievement as an academy. This just shows what a long-term strategy, vision, organisation and significant investment in talent from Malawi can achieve and we could not be prouder of our players, who have stepped up in a new environment to deliver a number of outstanding performances and moments to lift the Rey Cup,” he said.
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The academy’s director Thom Mkolongo said the boys executed instructions perfectly.
“The boys have played well during the whole tournament without conceding a goal. It is a positive thing to Ascent. It is great exposure to the boys, most of whom were playing outside Malawi for the first time,” he said.
Ascent Soccer became the first Malawian team and second African team to take part in the Rey Cup in Iceland.
As part of the 18-day tour, Ascent Soccer played five friendlies against academies of Icelandic professional teams as well as taking part in a number of cultural activities.
