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Co-Champions Crowned in First-Ever New York Cosmos Supporters Challenge Cup at MCU Park

Katralokos and River Plate BK share the first Challenge Cup trophy
Published Aug 21, 2017

Soccer games with more than five goals are a rarity, but not at the 2017 New York Cosmos Supporters Challenge Cup. “We won the first game 7-2, the second one 10-1, and the third one 10-2,” said River Plate BK president, Hernan Amorini. Not surprisingly, his team were Challenge Cup Co-Champions.

The tournament, organized members of the New York Cosmos front office staff, drew eight supporters’ teams from around the city to MCU Park before the main event between the New York Cosmos and Indy Eleven.

“It's a celebration of soccer,” said Ryan Sawyer, NY Cosmos Season Ticket Account Executive. “We try to get supporter groups from all over New York that represent all areas of the world. The idea being, coming down, playing a game, and then getting together as one to watch the Cosmos.”

Each supporters team played every other team once in a single table, round-robin tournament consisting of 12-minute games. The teams were ranked based on points, with the top four teams advancing to the semifinals. The winners then contested the Supporters Challenge Cup in a Final with two 15-minute halves.

“We are friends with the CAFA guys (Cosmopolitan Anti Fascists),” said Saint Pauli captain, Sandra Markmann. “Zach from CAFA told me about [the Supporters Challenge Cup], and I was like, OK, I'll get St. Pauli involved. I sent everyone a message, and we started practicing the next day!”



Markmann, who had never done such a tournament before, enjoyed the experience of playing at MCU Park. “It's great! It's so different than where we used to practice. [The field] is so soft and bouncy.” Although doubtful as to her team's chances of winning that day, she decided to see things from a different perspective. “We are winners in our hearts,” she said.

Some of the teams, like Saint Pauli, don't play regularly. “I used to play European handball, and to warm up, I used to play soccer,” said Markmann. “None of us really used to play [soccer]. We're doing it just for fun, for the love of it.”

One of the tournament's more experienced teams, River Plate BK, plays year-round. “We've played supporters cups before,” said team President, Hernan Amorini. “This summer, we won two tournaments – a street soccer tournament back in April, and three weeks ago we won the Soccer Resort Cup.”

“I like the camaraderie. Everyone is really friendly, so it's a pleasure playing here,” he added.

The Challenge Cup was not without its rivalries, including local ones between Cosmos supporters’ teams, as well as between CAFA and Saint Pauli. “We had some of our members cross over, so it's kind of a derby,” said CAFA member, Patrick.



Some rivalries yield unexpected results, like when River Plate BK's Amorini met a Boca Juniors fan on another team. “We actually took a photo, and I shared a beer with him, too,” he said. “So even though we are arch rivals, we had a nice moment there.”

The highlight of the tournament? A four-player AC Milan Supporters Team known as Skanderbeg. “They've beaten a lot of teams, so they're impressive. Maybe Gio (Cosmos Head Coach and Sporting Director, Giovanni Savarese) should give them a look,” Patrick suggested.

The Final featured 10 minutes of Golden Goal, leading to an eventual 5-5 tie between Katralokos (5 Points - La Banda) and River Plate BK. The teams shared the winners' medals and Supporters Challenge Cup trophy.

Saturday's tournament was about more than the silverware, however.

“I think that with the Cosmos, we aim to be a community-focused team,” said Sawyer. “We try to get the community involved. Last week, we had the boy scouts out here having a good time, now it's the supporters, and every game there's a different theme with a different group.”

Sawyer hopes that tournaments like these help grow the Cosmos fan base by giving supporters a firsthand experience. “If anything, they have a story to tell to the rest of the community, like 'Hey, the Cosmos are down at MCU Park. It's a great field. I've been down on that field, and I can't wait to watch them play.'”

2017 New York Cosmos Supporters Challenge Cup participating teams:

The Cross Island Crew Supporters Team (Bucket Island FC)

The 5 Points Supporters Team (5 Points FC)

The River Plate Supporters Team (River Plate BK)

The AC Milan Supporters Team (Skanderbeg)

South American (Columbia and Ecuador) Supporters from Queens (Team Queens)

La Banda Supporters Team (Katralokos)

St Pauli FC Supporters Team (FC St Pauli)

Cosmopolitan Anti-Fascist Supporters Team (Brigada 71 | CAFA)

 

The New York Cosmos will visit North Carolina FC on Saturday, August 26 at 7:30 pm. The team returns to MCU Park to take on Jacksonville Armada FC on Sunday, September 3 at 7:30 pm. Tickets are on sale now. For more information, click here.