The 2026–2027 season begins this weekend for our girls’ youth teams as well. From this season onwards, the section is overseen by Szeitl Szilvia, the former head coach of our senior women’s team, who also takes charge of the returning U17 side alongside her duties as head of the women’s youth section.

The 2026–2027 season begins this weekend for our girls’ youth teams as well. From this season onwards, the section is overseen by Szeitl Szilvia, the former head coach of our senior women’s team, who also takes charge of the returning U17 side alongside her duties as head of the women’s youth section. We spoke to her about the season’s main developments and objectives, as well as the coaching staff working in the women’s youth setup.

One of the most important changes ahead of the new season is that, in addition to the U9, U11, U13, U15 and U19 age groups, our club will once again field an U17 team. This was necessary primarily because the gap between the U15 and U19 age groups proved too great last season.

– It was very important to enter an U17 team because the step from U15 to U19 was too big last season. We needed another stage in the pathway so that every player could receive training and playing opportunities suited to her level of development. Some girls are able to move directly from the U15s to the U19s, but others need this intermediate stage. That is a completely natural part of their development – said Szeitl Szilvia.

The U17 age group is not returning to the club’s development system without precedent. We previously competed in the Youth League at this age level, while last season FK Csíkszereda were represented in the competition by an U19 team. The new structure now gives every player the opportunity to progress gradually through the age groups.

At the same time, the coaching staff do not assign players to teams solely on the basis of age. The most talented players, whose development is further advanced, may also be given opportunities to train and play with older age groups.

– We continue to focus on ensuring that the girls play at the appropriate level. We have U15 players who already train with the U17s because their performances show that they are ready to take that step. Likewise, some players from the U17 age group are already capable of playing for the U19 team. Every weekend, we assess which age group would provide the playing opportunity that best serves each player’s development – the head of the section emphasised.

Development is the primary objective

Although the teams naturally strive to achieve the best possible result in every match, the individual development of the players and their preparation for senior football remain at the heart of the club’s youth programme.

– If an age-group team can win its league, that is naturally a very good achievement. As a youth coach, however, the most important thing is to see the girls’ development and, at the end of the season, to be able to show precisely where they started and how far they have progressed over the course of a year. The senior team is the showcase of our development system, so our aim is to supply it with well-prepared players whose training does not need to begin with the basics. By that stage, we want them to possess the necessary technical and tactical knowledge, so that at senior level they primarily need to adapt to the chosen system of play and to the opposition – explained Szeitl Szilvia.

According to the head of the section, several talented players are currently developing in the club’s youth system who, with the appropriate training, could eventually make their mark in senior football.

– We have some very talented players who are well worth investing time in. I can see the potential in several girls to reach the senior team in the future. By allowing them to play in older age groups, we can also provide the right level of challenge for those who are further ahead in their development than their peers. I believe every age group will offer sufficient challenges for the girls to continue progressing.

Our club begins the season with sufficient numbers at every age level. To support the section’s long-term development, however, we will organise further recruitment sessions in the coming period.

– We are able to field a team in every competition, but there is always room for further development. We would particularly like to increase the number of players in the younger age groups so that we can continuously supply our academy teams from the bottom up. The more players we can bring into our development system, the stronger the foundations on which we can build the future of the women’s section.

Coaching staff expanded

The girls’ development will once again be supported by several coaches whose work complements that of their colleagues. Szentes Szabina works with the U9 age group, while Szőcs Renáta and Portik Helga coach the U11s. Nagy Noémi and Nyéki Anna work with the U13s. Portik Helga is the head coach of the U15 team, Szeitl Szilvia and Szőcs Renáta oversee the U17s’ technical work, while Berkeczi Emőke and Nagy Noémi lead the U19 side competing in the Youth League.

– We already worked with most of my colleagues last season, while Szentes Szabina, a former player of our senior team, has now joined the coaching staff. I believe we form a good team and can provide the girls with the appropriate training. As head of the section, my task is to bring this entire system together while also leading the U17 team. We will do everything we can to achieve good results, but the most important objective remains the continuous development of our players – Szeitl Szilvia concluded.

R. A.
Photo: Pál Zoltán