Masters Cup Football Tournament 2007

Starting from the 24th of September until the 29th of September, Palm Hills Club witnessed one of the years most successful and entertaining football tournaments in Egypt: The Palm Hills Masters Cup Tournament.

6 teams of legends, divided into two groups, competed in the Masters Cup for the ultimate prize. FC Barcelona, Valencia, Al Ahly, Zamalek, Palm Hills and Al Sokour were all star studded teams which generated an atmosphere of determination, concentration, technicality, skill and above all an atmosphere of legends!

World Cup heroes were present at the competition as well as players of the highest caliber. FC Barcelona had Sergi Barjuan in their ranks, Spain's left back in two FIFA World Cups (1994 and 1998) and two Euro competitions (1996 and 2000). Valencia CF enjoyed the captaincy of Castellar Camarasa, Spain's full back in the FIFA World Cup 1994. Al Ahly re-lived some of their glory days with legend Hady Khashaba, FIFA World Cup 1990 hero Magdi Tolba and the 1998 African Cup of Nations winner Yasser Rayan and Yasser Radwan! Egypt's most celebrated player Hossam Hassan did not take part in the tournament but was present at the games to help root for his former team mates. Al Zamalek enjoyed the services and skills of Khaled El Ghandoor, Hisham Yakan and Sami El Shishiny. Palm Hills witnessed the comebacks of greats such as the 1990 FIFA World Cup participant and 1998 African Cup of Nations winner Hany Ramzy, as well as, what proved to be the most skillful player in the tournament and the Masters Cup top scorer, ex-Ahly midfielder Mohamed Abdel Geleel. Al Sokour participated with the Mubaraks, Gamal and Alaa, with the player of the tournament Mohamed El Kott.

Surprises started from the start of the tournament with Palm Hills thrashing the Ahly legends 10-6 in the opening game, while Al Sokour beat Valencia CF 4-3 on the opening day as well. The first round saw the elimination of two teams, Al Ahly and Zamalek. The semi-finals proved to be more excited, as Valencia lost out to Palm Hills in a high tempered close game which ended 3-2. FC Barcelona was Palm Hills' opponents in the final as they eased pass Al Sokour 4-2. The third place award was given to Al Sokour after they won against the Spaniards 2-1 in the third place match, while the final was a spectacle for every body in the stands and everybody witnessing the matches on TV.

FC Barcelona comfortably won 6 goals to 2, however, the game was one of, if not, the most entertaining of the entire tournament as Palm Hills looked dangerous at every attack they created, but failed to score. Mohamed Abdel Geleel of Palm Hills scored a consolation goal at the end, but it proved to be the goal of the tournament as he nutmeged two players, before slotting the ball home in the far post.

Deservedly, FC Barcelona were crowned as the first ever Masters Cup Champions and will have their name engraved in the history books of this very special tournament. Celebrations were wild as soon as the trophy was handed to the team captain Sergi Barjuan, and it looks like they will be defending their trophy against stronger opponents next year!!

Participating Teams

*FC Barcelona
*Valencia CF
*Al Ahly
*Al Zamalek
*Palm Hills Club
*Al Sokour

Groups

Group A

footballbox
date = September 24, 2007
21:30
team1 = Palm Hills Club
score = 10 – 6
team2 = Al Ahly
stadium = Palm Hills Stadium, Cairo
Attendance: 400
Referee: Ashour

footballbox
date = September 25, 2007
21:30
team1 = Palm Hills Club
score = 4 – 5
team2 = FC Barcelona
stadium = Palm Hills Stadium, Cairo
Attendance: 250
Referee: Ashour

footballbox
date = September 26, 2007
21:30
team1 = Al Ahly
score = 3 – 2
team2 = FC Barcelona
stadium = Palm Hills Stadium, Cairo
Attendance: 300
Referee: Ashour

Group B

footballbox
date = September 24, 2007
23:15
team1 = Al Sokour
score = 4 – 3
team2 = Valencia CF
stadium = Palm Hills Stadium, Cairo
Attendance: 400
Referee: Ashour

footballbox
date = September 25, 2007
23:15
team1 = Al Zamalek
score = 1 – 6
team2 = Valencia CF
stadium = Palm Hills Stadium, Cairo
Attendance: 250
Referee: Ashour

footballbox
date = September 26, 2007
23:15
team1 = Al Zamalek
score = 5 – 6
team2 = Al Sokour
stadium = Palm Hills Stadium, Cairo
Attendance: 300
Referee: Ashour

Semi-Finals

footballbox
date = September 28, 2007
21:45
team1 = Valencia CF
score = 2 – 3
team2 = Palm Hills Club
stadium = Palm Hills Stadium, Cairo
Attendance: 450
Referee: Ashour

footballbox
date = September 28, 2007
23:35
team1 = FC Barcelona
score = 4 – 2
team2 = Al Sokour
stadium = Palm Hills Stadium, Cairo
Attendance: 450
Referee: Ashour

Third place match

footballbox
date = September 29, 2007
21:00
team1 = Al Sokour
score = 2 – 1
team2 = Valencia
stadium = Palm Hills Stadium, Cairo
Attendance: 650
Referee: Ashour

Final

footballbox
date = September 29, 2007
23:00
team1 = FC Barcelona
score = 6 – 2
team2 = Palm Hills Club
stadium = Palm Hills Stadium, Cairo
Attendance: 650
Referee: Ashour