El Presidente, the trophy is back!

9 June 2024

Richard Pabon, director of the youth team at Palmeiras, can’t have an interview without that one question about the trophy won last year coming up. What happened to the trophy?

Let’s take a trip back in time. After a nail-biting final against FC Barcelona, the boys from Palmeiras managed to claim victory in the 33rd edition of the Marveld Tournament and thus conquer the colossal Marveld Trophy. A big celebration erupted on the main field, and every player proudly posed with the trophy. Palmeiras was not only proud of the result, but also of the trophy itself.

After the tournament, there was an informal gathering of Palmeiras staff. The organization and volunteers of the Marveldtoernooi also had a pleasant conclusion after the event. Well, the evening progressed and it became more and more convivial. One phone call turned out to be open to multiple interpretations afterward. The Palmeiras players asked if they could take the trophy “home.” Well, what is “home” this weekend? Of course, the boys were allowed to take the trophy to the chalets so they could continue to enjoy it there. But the idea that “home” really meant Brazil here was momentarily overlooked.

So, the day after the tournament, the board was left without the trophy, while Palmeiras paraded with the cup at São Paulo airport. Oops! How do we get the exchange trophy back for this edition? Well, Richard Pabon was quick to decide on that. Then Palmeiras should just receive an invitation to this year’s edition. And so it happened. Palmeiras brought the trophy back after spending a year in Brazil. Before this edition, Palmeiras had already sent cheerful videos and photos to show that the trophy was on its way to the Netherlands, accompanied by quotes like “El Presidente, the trophy is on its way.”