By Lama Tassabehji ---

Due to the difference in age between the menÕs soccer team players and their opponents, only two out of the three planned games were played; moreover, only one could be considered a competative game. Despite the AUB teamÕs preparation and their readiness, the first match was cancelled. The members of the Rhodes soccer team who were supposed to play against the AUBites were all younger than the AUB players, and their parents did not allow them to play, fearing the AUBites would hurt the younger players. Hence, a match was planned for the following day against Vasmentos, retired professional players whose ages varied between 45 and 60. The menÕs soccer team bested the veteran players in the National Diagoras Stadium 5-1; the only goal was through a penalty shot by Rhodes. Evidently, the AUB men had the advantage of physical fitness but not technique; the Rhodes players were more experienced, as they had been playing professional football for a long period. Karim El-Zyr and Abdallah Abdel-Daem scored the first two goals respectively during the first 10 minutes of the game. By the end of the first half, El-Zyr scored AUBÕs third goal. Mounir Akhal left after the first half to go play as the goalie of the handball team. Mark Ghibril took his place. The veterans scored their penalty shot during the second half. AUBÕs Nasser Zahr made the score 4-1 before Zaher Krayem scored the fifth goal during the last two minutes of the match. The veteran teamÕs goalie used to play on the Greek national team. The menÕs soccer teamÕs last, and most professional game took place not on the grassy field where they had been training, but on a hard sandy field. Finally, the players they were competing against were of their same age and level, and the AUB soccer dream team won the day, 5-4.