In 2015 SATUC launched its most ambitious project yet the 2015 SATUC World Cup led by SATUC Chairperson Sheikha Al Thani which took place from 29th August until 3rd September. SATUC hosted a 5-a-side football tournament in the Cairo Stadium Indoor Halls Complex with teams comprising orphans and disadvantaged children aged 14-15 from around the world.
Via our partner charities, we brought in teams from
Egypt, Syria, England, the Philippines, Algeria, Mauritania, Ivory Coast & Morocco;
the tournament was truly global in scope.
Some of the biggest stars supported the cause with Egyptian legends Hassan Shehata and Ahmed Hassan as SATUC’s Honorary President and the Honorary President of the 2015 SATUC World Cup respectively, while footballing legends from all around the world such as Aziz Bouderbala, Rabah Madjer, and Carlo Cudicini are just some of the many who joined as tournament ambassadors.
The SATUC World Cup 2015 was just the beginning, and we hope that the tournament grows and flourishes; we want it to be held every two years in a different country until our mission is completed and the SATUC spirit is adopted all over the world.
SATUC’s cause evidently led to a number of 14-15-year-old participants in the SATUC World Cup becoming global stars.
During the press conference, Sheikha spread SATUC’s message in her Match Draw Speech and took the opportunity to put SATUC and her work in the public eye. In front of the world’s media, she set out her aims and SATUC’s ideals and said ”When the first Suez Canal was opened in 1869 the rules of football were only 6 years old – and it was to be another 53 years before the first Egyptian Cup was held. By contrast, the amazing New Suez Canal opened this month – and the SATUC World Cup was being held just 23 days later”!
“I would like to start by thanking everyone in this room and many others who were not able to join us. The SATUC World Cup is a dream that has been made real because of the astonishing vision, work, and generosity of so many people who have partnered with us to make this day happen. We thank our sponsors and ambassadors; our volunteers and our guests; the media and the logistical teams, and all the charities, organizations, and footballing legends from around the world who have helped us to organize the trials and the teams. And we thank the players and their representatives for traveling to Cairo to join us in this first-ever SATUC World Cup.”
The SATUC World Cup 2015 is a 5 aside football competition for 15-year-old boys, many of whom are orphans or refugees. The matches will be played across three days at Cairo’s Indoor Stadium. 8 nations have sent squads of 8 players and 2 adults, and the players have all been selected after a series of trials organized by charities or national associations in each country.
Egypt | England | Syria | Philippines
Cote D’Ivoire | Algeria | Morocco | Mauritania
SATUC honorary President
Honorary President of 2015 SATUC Cup
President of Egypt FA
Ministry of Youth and Sport
Philippines Ambassador to Egypt
Mauritania Ambassador to Egypt
Serbian Ambassador to Egypt
famous ballet dancer and SATUC Ambassador
Algerian footballer and SATUC Ambassador
The third edition of SATUC World Cup, which will be held in the Moroccan city of Tiznit in April 2020, promises to be an exciting tournament.
The participating teams are already preparing to try to win the precious trophy.
This is the case of Egypt, whose team of eager young players is involved in an intense training plan to make a good impression in Tiznit. The Egyptian team is composed entirely by orphaned children. They live in different orphanages in Egypt.
Based on the tournament requirements, they have to be under 15 years old to take part in it. Being orphaned at such a young age is a tragedy in itself. But the Egyptian youngsters who will go to the SATUC World Cup in Morocco are determined to turn their tragedy into achievements.
The Ambassadors enjoyed a light-hearted friendly match against the media partners where some former professionals could showcase some skills and the crowd enjoyed every minute of it. However, this was an important opportunity for them to put themselves in the players’ boots and unite in a spirit of competitive goodwill. Sheikha was involved too, flying the flag for female footballers!
Rabah Madjer and Abdoulaye Traore selected a team of former footballers and media partners to compete for honor and glory! The match was closely fought, with Rabah’s team running out 2-1 victors. Everyone had a good time and felt more connected to the children who were competing so hard on the pitch.
The SATUC CUP opening ceremony was a wonderful occasion resplendent with lights, music, dancers, and fireworks. Preceding the official opening match between Egypt and Syria (Group 1), Egypt won 6-0. The excitement was tangible The children mingled well, and everyone was happy to be representing their country. SATUC World Cup for orphans which were held in Cairo under the patronage of Sheikha Sheikha Al Thani, president of SATUC Foundation and founder of World Cup for orphans under the slogan “Children of the world are our children”, illustrating that there is no difference between children in regard of gender, religion, or color and she treats them equally in order to enable them to engage in the society in which they live. SATUC Cup had a positive effect on all participating children which was clear through the great happiness on the faces of children either during the matches or accommodation in one of the greatest hotels in Cairo near Cairo airport. There was a lot of joy among orphan children from 8 countries and Sheikha Al Thani who was keen to be with children because they are the base of her charity project and one of the main goals in society. The Syrian children who participated in the tournament were ecstatic especially because they were the focus of the participants and they were so happy either in the hotel or Cairo stadium hall which hosted the tournament.
The 14-15-year-old participants, many of whom had never traveled abroad before, were accommodated with style in the Fairmont Heliopolis Towers Hotel, where they received delicious daily meals and high standards of all-around care. SATUC also provided packed meals to the players and staff, providing the teams with the energy levels that allowed them to give their best on the field.