Sayaffallan Alpine Cup
The Sayaffallan Alpine Cup is a redemption professional soccer 2nd place match within the Sayaffallan Royal League that is held in an extreme location each year testing the skills and the expertise of players. The teams are picked from Slot A of the Semi Finals and the loser of the National Championship game.
Selection
There are 2 slots leading into the semi-finals based on overall team rankings (which is assessed on the number of wins vs loss in a given season).
- Slot A consists of Teams 1 & Teams 3 (#1 Ranked and #3 Ranked)
- Slot B consists of Team 2 & 4 (#2 Ranked and #4 Ranked)
The winner of Slot A & B end up playing in the National Championship. The loser of the National Championship is given the chance to play the loser of the Slot A game in the Alpine Cup for the chance at the number 2 slot at the end which comes with significant earnings increase and the coveted Alpine Cup which soccer clubs are able to keep at the end of the year. However those teams that lose in the Alpine Match and Slot B of the Semi Final receive nothing.
Game play
The matches are different from regular matches in that they are played in an extreme format typically involving significant terrain features such as mountainous hills or shallow rivers that impede the progress of players getting the ball to the goal. There are limitations however imposed by the SRL Sayaffallan Royal League such as no trees or stumps or root obstacles or cliffs that could spell death for competitors during the game or make game play impossible. Prior games have been played however on solid glacial ice fields, on a floating pitch in the middle of a lake surrounded by mountains, on the side of a mountain field with steep slopes making running difficult and striking even harder.
Alpine Cup
The Alpine Cup is a historical trophy dating back to the start of the Alpine Cup in 1952 as a SRL 2nd Place Redemption Match. The cup is made from silver and pewter and features significant historical etchings in the side of it. Each trophy features the names of all the players on the winning team engraved on it as well as the team flag.
In addition to the Alpine Cup being awarded, a cash prize of 1.6 million Gold Demelars (€1.5M;£1.3M)to each player as well as various rewards from sponsors of the SRL that are given generously as a tribute to the 2nd place team.
