FCIL United teams achieved remarkable results at a high-level tournament

During the recent weekends, the united teams of FCI Levadia and Infonet successfully participated in the international Riga Cup, delivering impressive performances. Both the U14 and U15 teams achieved podium finishes! The U15 team claimed first place, while the U14 team earned an honorable third place!

Thoughts from FCIL United U15 head coach Vyacheslav Zahovaiko on the Riga Cup: “We have only positive impressions of the Riga Cup tournament, which is one of the oldest in Europe. Next year, this tournament will celebrate its 25th anniversary. It was a great honor for us to participate in such a high-level international tournament and win first place! The matches were intense and competitive, and above all, our boys represented the club with dignity, showcasing a fast-paced, combination-based, and result-oriented game.”

“From the very first day, we gained momentum by defeating FC Espoo 4:1. Later that evening, we secured a 2:0 win against Riga Mariners. On Saturday, we dominated SK Brann with a 5:0 victory. In the evening match against RFS Academy, we had to fight hard and show character, as we were trailing 0:1 until the last minute. The boys’ immense determination and resilience paid off, as we managed to equalize the game. The emotions during the final stages were overwhelming—the team realized that the tournament victory was within reach. With the right focus and collective effort, we confidently won our last match 2:0 against a Portuguese team. The boys lifted the well-deserved trophy high. It was truly a memorable sight. We want to acknowledge the contributions of the players’ former coaches, who played a vital role in their development journey. The boys made history, as no Estonian club had won this tournament in its 24-year history. In addition to the victory, two of our players were recognized: Roman Lukin as the tournament’s best defender and Artjom Timakov as the tournament’s best player. This group is very ambitious, and we aim to compete internationally as much as possible. While we commend the team, much work still lies ahead!”

Roman Lukin was named the tournament’s best defender.
Artjom Timakov was named the tournament’s best player.

Thoughts from FCIL United U14 coach Nikita Martynov: “I am very pleased with the team’s performance. Despite the absence of three key players, we delivered excellent performances. I had to include boys born in 2012. The Riga Cup is a highly prestigious tournament featuring the best teams from their respective countries. We are glad to participate in such tournaments, as playing against strong teams provides valuable experience for our players. I am delighted that for the second year in a row, FCI Levadia’s teams have been in the top 3. This demonstrates that our club has talented young players who can compete at a European level. With hard work, outstanding players can emerge from this team. We strive to play our style and impose it on our opponents. We are aggressive, fast, and skilled, and I demand this from my players.”

Tournament highlights:
The FCIL United U14 team competed in a group with Leeds United (England) and Ullern IF (Norway), advancing as group leaders after defeating Leeds United 4:2 and Ullern IF 5:1.

In the subsequent group stage, they faced HJK Academy (Finland) in a 2:2 draw, PK35 (Finland) in a 1:1 draw, and SK Brann (Norway), where they suffered a 0:2 loss, ultimately securing third place overall.

Pavel Bogatov, the FCIL United U14 striker, was named the tournament’s best forward.

Fotos: Riga Cup


‭+372 520 8686‬
‭+372 5684 3537‬

Let’s play together, let’s win together!
Register your child with FCI Levada
and ignite their passion for football!