30 September 2005 |  Print |  Email

The 2nd International Branded Hotels of Shanghai (IBHS) Soccer Tournament took place between the 16th and 30th September 2005.

Following on from the success of last year’s inaugural competition this tournament featured 25 teams from IBHS hotels. There were 2 weeks of matches with qualifying games played on a pool basis with 8 individual groups and the top two teams from each group then progressing to the knock out stages.

The four finalists were the teams from the Four Seasons, Mayfair, Howard Johnson & JC Mandarin.

The 2 final matches took place on Friday September 30th and were really a show case for the tournament with two very closely-fought matches, a lot of very vocal support and both games ‘going down to the wire’, the results of each being decided through a penalty shoot out.

In the third and fourth match play off, the Howard Johnson defeated the JC Mandarin on penalties, with a score of 2:2 at full time. In the final, the Four Seasons led 2:0 at half time against the Mayfair Hotel, but were caught during the second half with the score at the final whistle being 2:2.

The Four Seasons eventually won the penalty shoot out 3:2.

IBHS Chairman and Vice Chairman - William Hall and David Travers together with key sponsor Aaron Randolf of Coca Cola presented the trophies and individual medals to the Mayfair Hotel and overall winners Four Seasons.

The Soccer Tournament has now become an annual event, the dedication and excitement generated by this competition is welcomed and many hotels are already working out new game plays for the new season.