The CDSC U10 team secured an impressive 3rd place at the Borussia Dortmund Youth Cup 2026 in Bangkok on April 25 – a result defined above all by commitment, team spirit, and unity.

The team had already traveled by plane on Friday morning – a special experience for many. Accompanying AD Patrick Kim-Türk summed it up perfectly: “It’s incredibly cool to travel to an away game by plane like the real professionals – a childhood dream coming true!”

That same evening, two friendly matches were on the schedule: against BVB Bangkok’s U12 team and Borussia Koh Phangan’s U10 side. The match against Koh Phangan turned out to be a true benchmark, as that team later finished 2nd in the tournament. All the more remarkable: as the game progressed, CDSC U10 grew into the match, became much more organized and stable, and even won the second half 2–0.

On tournament day, the team delivered an outstanding performance right from the start. In the group stage, they suffered only one defeat – against the eventual tournament winners. However, this did not unsettle the U10, who continued to play with courage, focus, and great determination.

In the match for 3rd place, the team once again demonstrated its full strength and secured a clear and well-deserved 3–1 victory.

What stood out throughout the tournament was the immense fighting spirit: every player pushed to their limits, many even surpassing themselves. Even setbacks caused by several injuries were overcome together – all the more remarkable was that every affected player returned after treatment and was able to contribute again.

Ben even continued playing with a bleeding knee, powerfully demonstrating his determination. Beyond that, he was one of the team’s key players throughout the tournament – present in decisive moments, exemplary in his work rate, and highly influential both offensively and defensively.

In goal, Lucas provided a reliable backbone on both days, producing several world-class saves and giving the team great stability. Emil impressed with his strength in duels and repeatedly drove the team forward with his tireless effort. Niklas defended with great composure and initiated dangerous attacks with his long passes. Paul consistently created danger with his free kicks and assisted several crucial goals – as they say in football, he gave it absolutely everything. Jacob scored the decisive goal to secure a place in the 3rd-place match with a powerful long-range strike into the bottom right corner. Dejan showed great fighting spirit and scored his first competitive goal in a tournament for CDSC – a goal that proved crucial for the required goal difference. In the decisive match for 3rd place, it was Max who was in a clinical finishing mood that day, sealing the victory with his 6th and 7th goals of the tournament.

Head coach Martin Brinkmann was particularly impressed after the tournament by how the team welcomed and integrated U8 player Manu – who actually belongs to an even younger age group (effectively a U7 player). This, he said, embodied the special CDSC team spirit on the pitch, where the children support one another. At the same time, it once again demonstrated that the concept of integrating talented younger players into older age groups works exceptionally well, fostering a strong sense of unity across age levels.

Special thanks also go to the parents, who supported the trip and took on a large part of the organization. Without their commitment behind the scenes, such an experience would not have been possible for the children.

A big thank-you also goes to the organizer, BVB Bangkok, for a thoroughly well-run tournament. Special mention should be made of Diego Silva and Tobi, whose support—both in preparation and throughout the entire tournament—was consistently attentive. They accommodated every request and ensured that the CDSC team felt extremely welcome at all times. The professionalism of the organization was evident from start to finish and played a major role in making this such a memorable experience.

In the end, CDSC celebrates a more than deserved 3rd place in a tournament that will surely be remembered for a long time. As an added highlight, Borussia Koh Phangan extended an invitation to a tournament on the island. We’ll see what comes next…

Martin Brinkmann