300 schoolchildren from the Principality, full of smiles and joy engaged in the very first edition of the Munegu Cup organized on June 5th at Stade Louis II.
What else would you expect from a collaboration of AS Monaco with the Department of National Education, Youth and Sports (Commissioner General, Madame Isabelle Bonnal) than the best in sports with hospitality and conviviality to match. No-one was disappointed.
Behind the initiative has been President Dmitry Rybolovlev and it has become important enough to be a permanent part of AS Monaco’s calendar for these kids aged 8 to 9. Those taking part this year in on the playing field of Louis II Stadium have the memory that they participated in the Grande Premiere. It only happens once.
Twenty Eight Teams of Seven
The children are from the CE2 classes of the schools of Révoires, Fontvieille, La Condamine, Saint-Charles and the institution François d’Assise-Nicolas Barré. The 300 Monegasque schoolchildren were divided into twenty-eight teams that would then play against each other 7 on each side. Cleverly organised the pitch was divided into eight so that so many matches could happen.
Rouge and Blanc everywhere, good humour with Bouba, the Club’s mascot, accompanied by commentary by Laurent Nieloux from the Fontvieille enclosure. …and expertly refereed by schoolchildren from the Principality who are members of the Union Nationale du Sport Scolaire.
It took nearly two hours of competition and seven group matches played by all the teams to produce the four victorious semi-finalists. Révoires 1, Révoires 2, Saint-Charles 3 and Saint-Charles 5,
There can only be two finalists unfortunately and it took the excitement of penalty shootouts for Révoires 1 and Saint-Charles 3 to come through.
The final then produced four goals for the spectators with the Révoires 1 team prevailing (3-1).
During the prize-giving ceremony, Ben Lambrecht, General Manager of AS Monaco, and Nicolas Rodier, Technical Adviser in the Department of National Education, Youth and Sports (DENJS) first wanted to congratulate all the participants and thank everyone who contributed to the success of the event with the words posted by AS Monaco:
“Thank you to AS Monaco for having had this idea combining sport and sporting friendship, thank you to the students for getting involved in this great event, thank you to the junior referees without whom this event could not have taken place” emphasized Nicolas Rodier. “Thank you also to the headteachers, the teaching and non-teaching staff who made this organization possible thanks to their presence and their mobilization and thank you to the Stade Louis-II for the welcome. »
Monegasque schoolchildren invited all year round
Ben Lambrecht reminded the children that as Monegasque schoolchildren, they have the “opportunity to attend AS Monaco matches at the Louis-II Stadium for free “to see and to come and support the team, with their families, next season.»
Prizes and awards followed as if the happy day itself was not enough. And a very special moment as the AS Monaco President’s trophy was awarded to the very first winners of the 1st edition of the Munegu Cup.
AS Monaco occupies such a large place in the sporting life of the Principality and, in particular, in that of the life of young Monegasques. The practice of sport is essential for their growth and development, whether it concerns physical health, team spirit, dedication, character and discipline. The “Munegu Cup” is embedded as a key part of that for the future.
