In an atmosphere of celebration and recognition of sports, the awards ceremony of the LV San Ginés Football Tournament was held on Saturday night at the Agapito Reyes Viera Municipal Football Field. The ceremony, presided over by the mayor of Arrecife, Yonathan de León, and the Councilor for Sports, Eli Merino, successfully marked the closing of this edition, which brought together some of the best teams in the Canary Islands.
In the men's category, CD Tenerife B won the championship title, beating US Yaiza in the final, who took the runner-up trophy. In addition, the outstanding participation of UD Lanzarote and San Bartolomé CF was recognized, who also took part in this exciting competition, showing a high sporting spirit and competitiveness.
In the women's category, the CD Tenerife Foundation was crowned champion against CDO Marítima, which took second place. This tournament, organized directly by the Arrecife City Council, through the Department of Sports, within the extensive program for the patron saint festivities, has been a reflection of the growth and consolidation of women's football on the island, an aspect that the Sports Area, led by Eli Merino, continues to actively support.
In the veterans category, the Afuveco Lanzarote Selection took the champion trophy, while the La Pared team, from Fuerteventura, took the runner-up. This group of veterans, with their passion and dedication, has made it clear that football continues to be a driving force for unity and friendship, regardless of age.
During the awards ceremony, special recognition was also given to the Technical Committee of Referees, whose work was essential to ensure the smooth running of the tournament. The mayor Yonathan de León, the Councilor for Sports, Eli Merino, the vice president of the Cabildo, Jacobo Medina, the island councilor for Sports, Juan Monzón, and several councilors of the Municipal Government of Arrecife participated in the awards ceremony.
The mayor, Yonathan de León, a football player in his youth, stressed that the city is committed to sports and the improvement of sports facilities. The result of these investments can be seen in the recently renovated Agapito Reyes Municipal Field, which, together with other investments underway, will see significant progress in the improvement of sports facilities in the neighborhoods during this term.
Within the sports program for Los Sangineles, and through the Councilor for Sports, all the clubs participating in this tournament, the oldest in the Canary Islands, have been especially thanked.
Likewise, Eli Merino made special mention of the Uco Arrocha Seminary, for its impeccable work. The commitment and dedication of the Uco Arrocha Seminary have been key to the success of this edition, where, in addition, the San Ginés Football Tournament has been greatly consolidated as an unmissable event in the Lanzarote sports calendar.
Closing ceremony
For the first time, the closing of this football tournament included a closing ceremony, which took place at the facilities of the Casa Museo Monumento al Campesino, with the presence of the mayor of Arrecife Yonathan de León, and the Councilor for Sports, Eli Merino, also responsible for the Department of Tourism.
During the closing ceremony, the importance of this tournament for the Arrecife sports community was highlighted, emphasizing how, year after year, it manages to bring together local and visiting teams in an atmosphere of healthy competition and coexistence. The mayor and the councilor took the opportunity to thank all the participants, organizers and collaborators who made the development of this edition possible.
One of the emotional moments of the day was the presentation of a commemorative plaque by La Pared Veteranos, who wanted to thank for the invitation to participate in this tournament. The plaque was gratefully received by the authorities present, who expressed their satisfaction with the good reception that the competition has had among the invited teams and its positive impact on the promotion of local sport.
The tournament, which has been consolidated as a benchmark in the Lanzarote sports calendar, has had the participation of several teams that, throughout this past weekend, have demonstrated a high level of play and a great sporting spirit.
The closing concluded wishing that the San Ginés Football Tournament will continue to consolidate as one of the most important competitions in Lanzarote next year. This 2024 has been more special as the city of Arrecife is commemorating the 225th anniversary of the founding of the municipality of Arrecife.