Français
For the Ajoe soccer school, there's one weekend on the season calendar circled in red: the weekend when the Saint-Barth Foot Challenge takes place. This year, the big event takes place on Saturday May 24 and Sunday May 25. It's a tournament unlike any other, as it will be held for the tenth time. This major event will bring together some 130 players (and a few women) under the age of thirteen. These budding champions are members of their club's training center (professional and amateur) or of a national team. Needless to say, the level of competition will be of the highest order, and the quality of play and spectacle will be of the highest quality. All the more so as defending champions Vitoria SC will be aiming to add their name to the trophy cabinet for the second year running. However, to achieve this goal, the Portuguese club will have to face some stiff opposition.
Ten teams for the tenth anniversary
For this 10th edition, the FC Famalicão team has come all the way from Portugal.
Nine teams will stand in Vitoria's way. For the tournament's tenth anniversary, Ajoe's soccer school manager Alan Dagorn will be fielding two of the club's teams, which will be made up of fourteen male (and female) players. All other teams will have ten players and two adult supervisors. To add a little spice to the competition, another club from Portugal has been invited. This is FC Famalicão, whose professional team plays in the first division of the Portuguese championship. The club is practically next door to Vitoria. This promises a fiery atmosphere in the stands of the Saint-Jean stadium. "We've made sure beforehand that the two clubs get on well," smiles Alan Dagorn, adding that the island's Portuguese community has already prepared drums and confetti to cheer on the local kids!
To oppose the Portuguese armada, Ajoe will also be welcoming the Stade Brestois under-thirteen selection. Eric Auffret, Alan Dagorn's predecessor who created the tournament with Yves Lacoste in 2014, met the Breton club's president this summer and the deal was in the bag. In addition to the two Ajoe teams, the youngsters from the three professional clubs will be joined by five Caribbean teams. Martinique, Anguilla ("Another kind of soccer", warns Alan Dagorn), Saint-Martin, Sint Maarten and Guadeloupe. The latter is made up of players from Grande Terre and Désirade. "It's all up for grabs", warns the Ajoe educator.
The opening ceremony is scheduled for this Saturday at 2pm. The first matches will kick off at 3pm.
Twenty group matches before the final phase
The ten teams are divided into two pools. The first, "Barthélemy hôtel & spa", will feature Ajoe 2, FC Famalicão, Martinique, Saint-Martin and Anguilla. The second, "Le Sereno", will pit Ajoe 1, Vitoria, Guadeloupe (Riviera du Levant), Sint Maarten and Stade Brestois against each other. All group matches will take place on Saturday, from 3pm to 10.15pm, in a format of two twelve-minute halves.
On Sunday, the final phase begins at 2pm with a classification match (2 x 15 minutes) between the 3rd and 4th of the two pools, followed by the two semi-finals between the 1st and 2nd of each pool.
From 3.45 p.m. to 5.40 p.m., there are matches to determine which teams are ranked 10th to 5th. At 5.55pm, the small final between the two losers of the semi-finals.
Finally, after a BMX show at 6.45pm, the tournament final kicks off at 7pm. The prize-giving ceremony is scheduled for 8 p.m.
A tombola of world champions
As with every year, Ajoe organizes a tombola for the Foot Challenge. For its tenth anniversary, thanks to one of its sponsors (Steve Savidan), two exceptional prizes will be up for grabs. The first is a Real Madrid jersey signed by Zinedine Zidane (108 caps and 31 goals with the French national team, 1998 world and 2000 European champion, 2002 Champions League with Real). The second is no less attractive for soccer fans, as it is the pair of cleats worn by Antoine Griezmann (2018 World Champion with France, 137 caps, 44 goals) during his last match with Les Bleus, on September 9, 2024 against Belgium (2-0). Tickets will be sold at the Saint-Jean stadium for 10 euros during the tournament. The draw will take place at half-time of the final on Sunday. Only one winner will win both prizes.
Two international sponsors
For its tenth anniversary, the Saint-Barth Foot Challenge has two sponsors: Steve Savidan and Benoît Costil. Already present in 2024, Steve Savidan won over the organizers with his simplicity and endearing personality. French Ligue 2 champion in 2006 with Valenciennes, he played in Ligue 1 for the last three years of his career, which was cut short by the discovery of a heart anomaly. The player had just enjoyed a superb season with Caen (which earned him his only cap for the French national team, against Uruguay in November 2008) and was about to sign for AS Monaco.
Benoit Costil began his professional career with Caen in Ligue 2, before making his name with Stade Rennais (2011 to 2017) and confirming it with Girondins de Bordeaux (2017 to 2022). He retired in 2024 after a final spell in Italy with Salernitana. Voted best Ligue 2 goalkeeper in 2011, he was awarded the France Football gold star for best Ligue 1 goalkeeper in 2014. Called up to the French national team on numerous occasions, he played in just one match, against Côte d'Ivoire in November 2016. Euro 2016 finalist with Les Bleus, he is part of the squad that wins the Nations League in 2021.
BMX show to open the final
To take a momentary break from soccer and add a touch of fantasy to the event, Ajoe has invited Anatole Rahain. A native of Calvados, he has been a professional BMX flat rider for over 10 years. Aged 26, he is one of the world's top 10 riders and has taken part in numerous artistic projects and international competitions. Like the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. He'll be putting on a show for spectators at the Saint-Jean stadium just before the final on Sunday.
Volunteers and partners
Throughout the event, some 80 volunteers from Ajoe, as well as parents of players, young club members and friends, will be helping to organize the event. On Saturday and Sunday, entertainment and games will be on offer alongside the matches. A refreshment stand will be open, and spectators will be able to enjoy a barbecue. Of course, the event would not be possible without its many partners. The local authorities, of course, but also Hertz for the vehicles transporting the teams and the hotels accommodating them (GypSea, Christopher, Barthélemy, Sereno), as well as villa owners and the accommodation center.
The double, the rule of success
Portuguese club Vitoria SC, winners in 2024, will be looking to complete the double.
Since Guadeloupe won the first tournament in 2014, and Chelsea (England) the following year, all winners have achieved the double. Benfica (2016 and 2017), Guadeloupe (2018 and 2019) and Girondins de Bordeaux (2022 and 2023). Winners in 2024, Vitoria will have the task of perpetuating this tradition. Not sure, however, that the other nine teams will agree...
