The 2023-2024 Samsung Galaxy Watch Elite Junior League (EJL) season has reached the end of the first half, so we invite you to familiarize yourself with the vicissitudes of the championship and the lineups of the tournament teams. This season, the championship brought together 36 teams, which are divided into three age group divisions.
In the spring, the teams will not only be waiting for the second half of the championship, but also innovative changes in the tournament tables, after applying the format tested in other European countries. Thanks to Samsung Galaxy Watch, the sponsor of the championship, football fans have even better conditions to follow the performances of the country’s best youth teams.
Important contribution of Samsung Galaxy Watch to the dissemination of youth football
From May 2021, the world-leading technology company Samsung joined the sponsors of the Lithuanian Children and Youth Education Football Association (LVJUFA). The company’s brand “Samsung Galaxy Watch” has become an integral part of the Elite Junior League – not only because of the connection with the name of the championship, but also because of joint efforts to popularize football among young people in Lithuania and promote a sporty and healthy lifestyle with the help of smart technologies.
In the middle of the current season of the championship, the fans of the championship could see as many as 12 high-quality live broadcasts recorded on the futbolas.tv platform, after which reports were prepared with the most interesting moments of the match and comments of players or coaches. All of this is made possible by the consistent support of the Samsung Galaxy Watch.
It should be noted that at the end of the season, the best performing football players are awarded Samsung Galaxy Watch prizes – smart watches and headphones – during the awards ceremony. In recent years, the honoring of football players took place in the Vilnius Grand Resort complex.
“The start of this season is quite optimistic, with all divisions fighting hard for a place in the top six, and thanks to our sponsor Samsung Galaxy Watch, we are able to host more live streams on a regular basis, exposing the increased geography of matches.” By showing them on the free futbolas.tv platform, we attract even more audiences who can appreciate the performances of our most talented young players,” said LVJUFA President Dainius Gudaitis.
EJL U18 division – an opportunity to represent Lithuania in the UEFA Youth League
Samsung Galaxy Watch The Elite Junior League’s prestige has been further enhanced by the opportunity to delegate the champions of the senior division to the UEFA Youth League. In 2021 and 2022, Vilnius “Žalgiris” debuted in the European tournament, and this year Klaipėda FM received this honor. The people of Klaipėda had the extraordinary experience of facing the strongest youth team in Europe – “AZ Alkmaar” already in the first round.
This season, a tight battle is brewing in the EJL U18 division, as the footballers realize that the price of the first place is not only the title of Lithuanian champions, but also a debut in the UEFA Youth League. Currently, the representatives of the city of Panevėžys are leading the division, and 5 more teams have exceeded the 30-point mark – FA Šiauliai-ŠSG, Kaunas Be1 NFA, Vilnius FK Žalgiris, Kaunas Žalgirio FA and Vilnius Talentų FA-FK Riteriai. “.
Team standings after 16 rounds: FA Panevėžys-PRSSG – 35 points, FA Šiauliai-ŠSG and Be1 NFA – 32 points each, FK Žalgiris – 31 points, Kaunas Žalgiris FA and Talenti FA -FK “Knights” – 30 t each, FK “Garliava” – 26 t, Marijampole FC – 22 t, Klaipėda FM – 20 t, FC “Hegelmann” – 15 t, FA “Tauras” – 9 t ., “Vilnius Football Academy” – 6 volumes.
Be1 NFA and Zalgirio and the dispute for gold medals moved to the EJL U16 division
In the last season, the fight for gold medals in the U15 division between Kaunas “Be1 NFA” and the capital’s Žalgiris lasted until the last round. This year, these teams compete in the U16 division and continue to demonstrate their superiority over the rest of the teams. The leading “Žalgiris” won as many as 45 points out of 48 possible, and the Kaunas are just 2 points behind the first place.
So far, the most realistic contenders for the bronze medals in this division are the three capital teams – Vilnius BFA, VFA “Geležinis vilkas” and “Vilnius Football Academy”. Gargždų FK “Banga”, Vilnius A. Narbekova FA and Klaipėda FM still have good chances to move up in the tournament table.
Team standings after 16 rounds: FK Žalgiris – 45 points, Be1 NFA – 43 points, Vilnius BFA – 33 points, VFA Geležinis vilkas – 32 points, Vilnius Football Academy – 26 points, FK “Banga” and FA of A. Narbekov – 24 points each, Klaipėda FM – 23 points, Talenti FA-FK “Knights” – 17 points, FA “Panevėžys”-PRSSG and FA “Dainava” – 10 points each. , FA “Šiauliai”-ŠSG – 1 vol.
Young people from different cities successfully compete in the youngest division
The widest geographical network is covered by the EJL U15 division, which was further expanded by the Mažeikiai “Atmosferos” and “Utenos Utenio” teams that debuted in the championship.
After playing the first half of the season, the boys of Vilnius BFA lead the division, but their distance from the nearest pursuers from Vilnius, Klaipėda, Kaunas, Marijampolė and Šiauliai is not significant, so we can expect serious changes in the race for medals in the spring.
Team lineup after 16 rounds: Vilnius BFA – 43rd, FK “Žalgiris” – 40th, Klaipėda FM – 37th, “Kauno Žalgirio” FA – 35th, Marijampolės FC – 28th, FA “Šiauliai” – ŠSG – 27 years, Talenti FA-FK “Knights” and FK “Atmosfera” – 19 years each, FA “Panevėžys”-PRSSG – 17 years, “Vilnius Football Academy” – 14 years, FK “Aidas” – 5 t., FK “Utenos Utenis” – 4 t.
The growth of the capacity of youth teams and what awaits them in the spring?
The increased capacity of Lithuanian football clubs and academy teams is revealed not only by the intense battle in the national championships, but also by the excellent performances of Lithuanians in the Baltic Youth Football League. The winner of last year’s debut season was Vilnius BFA U15 team, and this year Kaunas “Be1 NFA” won the champions cup.
4 teams each from the U15 and U16 age groups can represent Lithuania in this club tournament. Peer teams from Latvia and Estonia also compete in it. In February, the third season of the Baltic League will begin, in which players who are developing in the Samsung Galaxy Watch Elite Junior League will also participate.
In mid-March, after the winter break, all teams of the Samsung Galaxy Watch Elite Junior League will return to the stadiums. They will have 6 rounds, after which the second round will end and the championship will be divided into two groups for 1-6 places and 7-12 places. In the groups, the teams will meet each other once, and the final lineup of the teams will be announced in June.
Notably, after the second round, each team’s points will be split in half, ensuring that the rest of the season will be an intriguing one, with teams fighting for both honors and survival.
“After summarizing the already played part of the season, I want to celebrate the increased number of football players in Lithuania and the fact that the Elite Junior League has created excellent conditions for improvement, and the club teams have become more competitive and professional. As a result of such sports competition, the general level of Lithuanian football rises, and this is justified by the victories of our young football players in international tournaments. With the Samsung Galaxy Watch, we were aiming for such an advanced football environment and attention to the individual development process of players,” said LVJUFA President Dainius Gudaitis.
Author – Robertas Kazdanas / LFF.lt
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– 2024-04-01 18:36:45
