Hellenic United Athletic Club | Chicago, USA

Random thoughts from HU Blue's showing in the Green White Tournament:
 
MVP
 
Mahir Mameledzija
 
One goal, two assists and consistently good performances throughout the tourney from the seventeen year old on loan from NK Prijedor. Simply a midfield dynamo. Very composed and mature in his play.
 
Runner up: 
 
Jovica Nanic
 
If the award were based solely on first day play, Nanic would have grabbed top honors. A thigh injury limited his play on the second day. Aggressive and assertive in the tackle. Consistently made dangerous runs forward from his right fullback slot.
 
Best Goal
 
Mike Marks
 
His solo effort against Eagles was the HU tourney highlight. Simply dazling. Reminiscent of George Best.
 
Runner up:
 
Milan Tica 
 
His left footed blast in Sunday's last match left the Eagles keeper motionless and everyone else in stunned silence.
 
Best Single Game Performance
 
Mike Marks
 
Two goals and an assist versus Eagles. The stats say it all.
 
Best Save
 
David Barszczowski
 
Spectacular secondhalf save against Kickers preserved tie for HU. Brought the spectators at field one out of their seats.
 
Purple Heart Award
 
Nermin Dautovic
 
Played most of day one and all of day two with what was later diagnosed as two broken bones in his right hand.
 
Otis Campbell Award
 
Mark Holland, Firas Abraham and David Barszczowsi
 
The HU trio took full advantage of Highlander's forfeit in Saturday's last match to sample quite a bit of Warsteiner lager in the beer tent during idle time...much to the delight of their teammates looking on from field one. Well done boys.
 
Help from HU Over 30
 
HU Over 30 players Mario Mele and Panos Panagopoulos hustled over to field one after their first match on Sunday to help out a shorthanded HU Blue against Lions. Thank you very much fellas!
 
Coaches Corner 
 
"This was a great experience for us" said HU coach Andy Sotiropoulos. "Outstanding tourney. First class in every respect. I hope Green White invites us back next year. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. We obviously would have liked to have progressed to the semis, but losing that first match to Green White really put us behind the eight ball. It seems every time we don't capitalize on scoring chances, it comes back to haunt us. On the flip side, we were the only team outside of Schwaben to take points from Kickers. I was just a tad disappointed that we didn't come out to play the second day. We lost a very winnable match (to Lions). Playing with nine guys for nearly ten minutes is tough in a no offsides tourney. You can't go down 2-0 in a 40 minute game and expect to make up the difference in half an hour. It also shows we weren't prepared. That's not the image this club would like to portray. Nonetheless, it was a positive overall experience and we hope to be back next year."