Two Austrian Teams Competing in the Kids’ Category
With perfect football weather and temperatures around 20 degrees, the morning focused on the Special Needs Kids. Two teams in purple showcased their skills against the children from SK Rapid and Perchtoldsdorf. After a light breakfast, sponsored by partner Ströck and Billa Plus, the tournament commenced with the Vienna derby. The preliminary round matches were marked by immense effort, stunning goals, and passionate celebrations.
In the final round, Perchtoldsdorf claimed third place by defeating the Special Violets Kids team, who donned purple jerseys. In an exciting and fair final, another derby unfolded. The SK Rapid kids triumphed over the second team, the Violets, in white, with a score of 2:1, securing the tournament victory. During the trophy presentation by Johannes Dobretsberger, Head of Marketing & Sales (B2B) at Austria Wien, the Vienna Disabled Sports Association (WBSV), and Michael Löwy from Lukoil, the children beamed with joy and received small souvenirs in addition to their trophies.
“For my boys, and especially for our two girls on the Special Violets Kids team, this was a fantastic experience to host a tournament here at the Austria Academy, where we also train. Everything went smoothly, and I am especially grateful to the many helping hands, without whom today’s event wouldn’t have run as well,” stated our Head Coach Leo Vasile, summarizing the day positively.
Second Place for the Special Violets in the Adult Tournament
During the lunch break, the players from the special needs teams who had arrived earlier took the opportunity to refuel, while visitors could explore and test out various bicycles for all ages from Bicycle Böhm of Hohenau.
At 1:00 PM, Sports Director Manuel Ortlechner kicked off the tournament and introduced the esteemed referee trio comprising Marco Stark, Marketing and Sales at Austria Wien and former Austria player, as well as Austria legends Markus Suttner and Michael Wagner.
Group A saw FK Austria Wien Weiß, SK Rapid Grün, IFC Spielerpass, SK Sturm, and SKN St. Pölten competing against one another. Group B included IFC Spielerpass 2, FK Austria Wien Violett, SK Rapid Weiß, and FC Flyeralarm Admira Wacker Mödling. The adult teams continued where the kids left off, presenting exciting games filled with enthusiasm and joy in the preliminary round.
Exciting Prizes for the Top Three Finishers
In the final, the SK Rapid Special Needs Team edged out our Special Violets for the win. Third place went to Sturm Graz, followed by SK Rapid Weiß and the Special Violets Weiß. The Graz team was thrilled to receive a gift basket from Billa Plus, while the Special Violets in the XXL Leopoldauer Alm will receive a special tournament prize of Natural Power, providing them with additional motivation for the upcoming weeks. Furthermore, the top three teams were awarded tickets for the match between Austria and Slovenia at Vienna’s Ernst Happel Stadium. A heartfelt thank you goes to the ÖFB.
Head Coach Thomas Hanreiter expressed contentment despite missing out on victory: “My boys delivered a fantastic performance. Unfortunately, we lacked the luck we needed in the final, although it was an evenly matched game. Playing in front of a home crowd was hugely enjoyable for the boys. We are already looking forward to next year.”
Sports Director Manuel Ortlechner was enthusiastic: “This tournament has the potential to become a staple of Austria Wien. A big thank you to the entire organizing team for this fantastic event.”
Organizer and team manager Hannes Wlas was equally pleased, adding: “The organization of the tournament went exceptionally well. The extensive preparations paid off. I would like to thank all our sponsors, especially WBSV, Otto Bock, and Lukoil , along with our main sponsors Paul Blaguss and Coca-Cola. A huge thank you also goes to all members of the Austria family for their commitment, which made this event possible. With today’s experience, we will aim to plan the 2nd Viola Cup 2025 even better and larger.”
Two Austrian Teams Competing in the Kids’ Category
With ideal football weather and temperatures around 20 degrees, the morning was all about the Special Needs Kids. Two purple teams proved their skills against the kids from SK Rapid and Perchtoldsdorf. After a small breakfast, sponsored by partner Ströck and Billa Plus, the tournament was opened with the Vienna derby. The preliminary round matches were characterised by a lot of effort, beautiful goals, and passionate celebrations.
Exciting Matches and Thrilling Performances
In the final round, Perchtoldsdorf won the match for third place against the Special Violets Kids team, who were wearing the purple jerseys. In an exciting and highly fair final, it was another derby. The SK Rapid kids won the match against the second team, the Violets, who were wearing white, 2:1 and thus secured the tournament victory. At the presentation of the trophy by Johannes Dobretsberger, Head of Marketing & Sales (B2B) at Austria Wien, the Vienna Disabled Sports Association (WBSV), and Michael Löwy from Lukoil, the children beamed and received small souvenirs in addition to the trophies.
A Coach’s Perspective
“For my boys, but especially for our two girls in the Special Violets Kids team, it was a great experience to be able to hold a tournament here in the Austria Academy, where we also train. Everything went really well and I would especially like to thank the many helping hands, without whom the smooth running of today’s event would not have been possible,” said our Head Coach Leo Vasile, providing a positive summary of the day.
Second Place for the Special Violets in the Adult Tournament
During the lunch break, where the players of the special needs teams who had already arrived could strengthen themselves, the visitors had the opportunity to try out various bicycles for young and old from the company Bicycle Böhm from Hohenau to view and test.
Format and Teams in the Adult Tournament
At 13:00, Sports Director Manuel Ortlechner opened the tournament and presented the renowned referee trio consisting of Marco Stark, Marketing and Sales at Austria Wien and former Austria player, as well as the Austria legends Markus Suttner and Michael Wagner.
Group Stage Rundown
In Group A, the following teams competed:
- FK Austria Wien Weiß
- SK Rapid Grün
- IFC Spielerpass
- SK Sturm
- SKN St. Pölten
Group B consisted of:
- IFC Spielerpass 2
- FK Austria Wien Violett
- SK Rapid Weiß
- FC Flyeralarm Admira Wacker Mödling
The adult teams continued where the kids left off and delivered exciting games with lots of enthusiasm and joy in the preliminary round.
Great Prizes for the Top Three Finishers
In the final, the Special Needs Team of SK Rapid once again won just ahead of our Special Violets. Third place went to Sturm Graz, followed by SK Rapid Weiß and the Special Violets Weiß. The Graz team were delighted to receive a gift basket from Billa Plus, while the Special Violets in the XXL Leopoldauer Alm received a special tournament prize of Natural Power, which will give them additional motivation for the coming weeks.
Ticket Rewards
In addition, the first three teams received tickets for the match Austria against Slovenia in Vienna’s Ernst Happel Stadium. A big thank you goes to the ÖFB.
A Coach’s Reflection
Head Coach Thomas Hanreiter was satisfied despite missing out on victory: “My boys put in a great performance. Unfortunately, we didn’t have the luck we needed in the final, but it was a match on equal terms. The opportunity to play in front of a home crowd gave the boys great joy. We are already looking forward to next year.”
Sports Director’s Enthusiasm
Sports Director Manuel Ortlechner was enthusiastic: “This tournament has the potential to become an integral part of Austria Vienna. A big thank you to the entire organizing team for this great event.”
Success Stories and Future Planning
Organizer and team manager Hannes Wlas was also delighted and added: “The organization of the tournament worked really well. The intensive preparations were worth it. I would like to thank all sponsors. In particular the WBSV, Otto Bock, and Lukoil, as well as our main sponsors Paul Blaguss and Coca-Cola. A huge thank you also goes to all members of the Austria family who made this event possible with their commitment. With today’s experience, we will plan the 2nd Viola Cup 2025 even better and bigger.”
Benefits of Participating in Special Needs Tournaments
Participating in special needs tournaments not only provides an opportunity for children to showcase their athletic skills but also fosters teamwork, boosts self-confidence, and encourages social interaction among peers. Here are some key benefits:
- Teamwork: Players learn to work together towards a common goal.
- Inclusion: Special needs tournaments promote inclusivity, providing all children with the opportunity to play.
- Confidence Building: Success on the field can boost self-esteem.
- Physical Health: Regular participation in sports significantly improves physical health and wellbeing.
Practical Tips for Parents
For parents looking to get their children involved in special needs football, here are some practical tips:
- Encourage your child to try out different roles within the team to find their strengths.
- Attend games together to build excitement and support their involvement.
- Communicate with coaches to address any concerns related to your child’s specific needs.
First-Hand Experience: A Player’s Journey
One player from the Special Violets team shared, “Playing in this tournament made me feel part of something bigger. I made new friends and learned a lot about teamwork. I can’t wait for next year!” This reflects the profound impact such tournaments have on participants, emphasizing the importance of community and shared experiences.
Final Standings of the Tournaments
| Position | Team | Category |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SK Rapid Kids | Kids |
| 2 | Special Violets Kids | Kids |
| 3 | Perchtoldsdorf Kids | Kids |
| 1 | SK Rapid Special Needs | Adult |
| 2 | Special Violets Adults | Adult |
| 3 | Sturm Graz | Adult |
