Record 43 Teams Kick Off Andorra Sènior Cup in Pyrenees
This veteran football tournament, capped at 43 teams for quality, features over-35 and over-45 divisions plus a debut over-60 Golden Game. Ex-pros and amateurs prioritize enjoyment on Pyrenean pitches.
Key Points
- 43 teams from Andorra, Spain, Portugal, France compete in 16th edition, drawing 1,200+ participants.
- Over-35: 28 teams in 7 groups; over-45: 15 teams in 5 groups with direct semis for top 4.
- New Golden Game for over-60 players debuts Sunday; past stars like Celades, Saviola attended.
- Organized by Talin Puyalto at Borda Mateu and Ordino pitches, emphasizing fun over competition.
The Andorra Sènior Cup kicks off this weekend with a record 43 teams from Andorra, Spain, Portugal, and France competing in its 16th edition, attracting more than 1,200 people including players, coaches, and companions.
Organised by Talin Puyalto, the national futsal team selector who founded the event 16 years ago, the tournament has established itself as one of the Pyrenees' premier veteran football gatherings. Matches will centre on the Borda Mateu pitches and the Ordino Sports Centre (CTO). Puyalto noted that organisers capped entries to maintain service quality and event standards, keeping the focus on participants' enjoyment over expansion.
The over-35 category features 28 teams in seven groups of four, with the group winners and best runner-up advancing to the quarter-finals. The over-45 division includes 15 teams across five groups of three, where the top four overall proceed directly to the semi-finals.
A highlight this year is the new Golden Game, an over-60 football-8 match set for Sunday at 10:20 a.m. Past editions have drawn former stars like Albert Celades, Joseba Etxeberria, Carlos Gurpegui, Pablo Orbaiz, Santi Ezquerro, Javier Saviola, José Rojo Martín (Pacheta), Jofre Mateu, Óscar Arpón, Raúl Valbuena, and Emmanuel Ayuk, though Etxebarria will be absent this time.
Puyalto stressed the laid-back approach, saying enjoyment matters more than competition. Gabriel Virto, president of CD Alesves, described the vibe: ex-professionals play like amateurs for the weekend, while regulars get a pro-level thrill.
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