City College International Week ends with one of the most popular sporting events of the year, where students will compete in the 11th Annual International Soccer Tournament.
The International Student Support Program hosts the tournament, held April 26 and 27 at La Playa Stadium.
12 teams will meet for the two-day soccer championship that starts Saturday morning at 8 a.m. and continues to approximately 4:30 p.m.
Vasu Patel, 20, business administration major, is one of the players from last year, and will also participate this semester with his team ‘Africa Mambas.’
“It’s a really competitive tournament,” Patel said. “Everyone fights their hardest to win it.”
Besides being one of the players this year, Patel is also one of the International Student Ambassadors that coordinates the tournament.
The teams are divided into four groups that compete in 30-minute games separated by a five-minute break. The winner and runner-up from each group continue in the tournament for the quarterfinals that start 8 a.m. on Sunday.
The Ambassadors overlook the tournament to make sure that the rules and regulations are followed.
“It’s a tournament where sometimes a lot of temper rises,” Patel said. “But everything is always under control.”
The quarterfinals, semifinals and championship games are a little bit longer. The tournament ends with a ceremony on Sunday afternoon where medals are handed out and an engraved trophy presented to the winners.
Alan Guler, is one of the members from last years winning team called Pia FC, an all Swedish team that won the tournament in the Fall of 2013.
Guler said that the tournament was a great experience, with competitive but friendly feelings between the teams.
“The soccer tournament is a good way to keep students away from bad places,” Guler said.
Michael Ayres, international housing coordinator, coordinates International Week and the tournament.
Ayres said that the tournament is a great way for all City College students to meet people and get exposed to different cultures.
“This is our biggest reason of having the tournament,” Ayres said. “To get all the different students from various countries together.”
Ayres said that he wants to emphasize how important it is to respect the other players and to maintain good sportsmanship.
The soccer tournament is an open event. Everyone from City College is welcome to come and watch the competitive teams play for the winning cup.
Patel said that it is a social event and a great place to meet new people and make new friends.
“It’s a friendly tournament,” Patel said. “Everyone enjoys themselves and has fun.”
