The exciting finals of the first official "2023 Hangzhou International Students Cup (HISCUP)" were successfully held in Hangzhou's Yuhang District on Saturday, December 23.

The tournament was initiated and led by a group of international students, passionate football enthusiasts. It was sponsored by the Zhejiang Africa Service Center and the Linping Football Association, and supported by the International Exchange Committee of the Zhejiang Provincial Football Association.

The two-month-long tournament saw the participation of over 100 international students from Morocco, Belgium, Egypt, Nigeria, South Korea, Zimbabwe, Pakistan, Zambia, and so on, representing a total of six teams from nine universities.

The HISCUP finals took place at the Xingang Village Stadium, close to the renowned Liangzhu Ruins. Zhejiang University of Science and Technology (ZUST) and Zhejiang Sci-Tech University (ZSTU) earned their places in the finals as the favorites. Both teams displayed exceptional performance during the round-robin stage, each securing four wins and a draw.

Notably, the draw happened when they faced each other, resulting in a thrilling 3-3 tie. The level of competitiveness set the stage for an unpredictable final game, making it all the more fascinating.

In the final game, George Andrew, a skilled forward from Tanzania, stunned the crowd by netting four goals, leaving the opposition in disbelief as the halftime whistle blew.

In extending congratulations to the ZUST football team for their tournament victory, Mr. Gao Zhisheng, Head of the Student Affairs Office in the School of International Education at Zhejiang University of Science and Technology, emphasized: " Such sports events can foster exchange and understanding among students from various countries, which positively impacts their study and life abroad.

Despite not reaching the final, the 14-year-old Bashar from Egypt, the youngest player in the tournament who played for the Zhejiang University team, shared his enjoyment: "The football tournament was a lot of fun! I enjoyed playing with the team, and the competition was intense. Looking forward to the next one!".

Discussing the future of the tournament, Mr. Xie Qi, the Director of the Zhejiang Africa Service Center, which sponsored this edition, anticipates its expansion. He sees it as a valuable platform for communication and mutual learning, not only among international students but also with the local society.