A resounding success for the Overseas Committee 4th Annual Football World Cup

The OSC football World cup tournament took place at Imperial on 17 November with over 100 players, fighting it out for the great OSC World cup.

Imperial’s largest international sports event is a chance for students from different cultures within the university to come together and play for their countries in what is many students’ last chance to fulfill their dream of playing in a world cup final. The day did not disappoint for those that took part.

The group stages saw Iraq, Arabic, Pakistan, and Cypriot societies pitted against one another in arguably the toughest of the groups, ‘the group of death’. Group B saw Germany pitted against India, Spain and Thailand. Group C drew Iran, Malaysia, Helenic and Mauritius together, whilst group D matched Nigeria, with Portugal, Japan and Romania.

After the initial group stages the Spanish looked dominant, hoping to continue last year’s success and lift the cup for a second time since its emergence as a tournament at Imperial 4 years ago. But someone forgot to tell the Spanish about the Arabic and Iraqi societies who were obviously following a different script and looking dominant within the group of death, leaving little room for others. Japan, Nigeria and Iran all looked capable of reaching the semi finals too, fighting hard to secure qualification.

After an hour of play it became apparent that the teams to progress from the group stages where going to be: Nigeria, Japan, Malaysia, Iran, Spain, Thailand, Iraq and Arabic society. The pick of the quarterfinal matches saw Iraq meet Iran with a very evenly contested battle ending in penalties, with Iraq coming through as winners. They were joined in the semis by Arab, Spanish, and Malaysian societies. The semifinals loomed; the Arabic society faced a tough match against Nigeria whilst Span met with Iraq.

After two incredibly tight games, in which any team could have prospered, Iraq and Arabic society won through to a final that was to see an exciting repeat meeting of the societies from game one of the tournament and a repeat of the final 4 years ago in which Iraq claimed the victory.

A fierce battle ensued which seeing Arabic society dominate for periods but the class of Iraq was just too much in the end and they fought through to lift the OSC world cup once again. Their prize sees them win £70 to enable them to fund future society events together with the much coveted OSC World Cup. The Iraqi flag will be flown at the university to represent their great feat in claiming the cup for the second time in its 4-year history.

Overall, the day was a resounding success and helps continue the hard work of the Oversees Societies Executive Committee (OSC Exec) and all of its committed members who strive to promote cultural diversity within the college. We continue to work for this cause and greatly thank all those, particularly Sport Imperial, who join us in this cause and without who’s generosity the event could not have taken place. Roll on world cup 2013 but for now: A big congratulations to the Iraqi Society!!

Reported by Alexander McFarquhar- OSC Sports Officer