Friendship Tournament 2025: University of Athens – University of Cyprus – 3 Teams, 1 Ball, Lasting Bonds

The Inter-institutional Sports Meeting between the University of Cyprus and the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA) took place on Monday, 10 November 2025, with Football, Futsal, and Tennis fixtures capturing the excitement of both participants and spectators. Teams competed at the Near East Municipal Football Ground and the Ilioupoli Tennis Club Courts, demonstrating not only athletic skill but also the spirit of collaboration and the strong ties binding the two Universities.

The event was greatly enhanced by the guidance and unwavering support of NKUA Rector, Professor Gerasimos Siasos, whose leadership proved instrumental in ensuring its smooth execution and resounding success.

At the close of the matches, Professor Christos Karagiannis, Vice-Rector for Administrative Affairs, Student Welfare, and Lifelong Learning at the University of Athens, together with Sofia Efstratiou, Head of Student Welfare, presented trophies to the student-athletes. In a further gesture of recognition, Andreas Kallinikou, Physical Education Instructor at the University of Cyprus, presented plaques of honour—first to the tournament organizers and then to Athanasios Souglis, Assistant Professor at the School of Physical Education and Sport Science of the University of Athens.

Now in its third consecutive year, the tournament has firmly established itself as a highlight of the academic calendar. Its continued success is owed in no small part to the dedication of the Physical Education Instructors from the Sports Activities Office (Directorate of Student Welfare, NKUA)—Andreas Theocharatos, Aristeidis Mavridis, Sotiris Mariolis, and Christos Maragkos. Looking ahead, the organizers aim to expand the number of student-athlete participants along with that of collaborating Institutions, at both national and international levels.