For the second consecutive year, Geotrading AD brought together colleagues, partners and friends on the pitch for the “Champions League” football tournament. The event has firmly established itself as one of the most anticipated initiatives in the company’s calendar and that of the Geotechmin Group, uniting the thrill of competition with the values that bind the organization together every day — teamwork, respect, perseverance and the drive to succeed.
This year’s edition brought together representatives from Geotrading AD, GEOTECHMIN Group, Geostroy AD, Ellatzite-Med Ore Mining Complex, Ellatzite-Med Repair Complex, ITR Services Ltd., Street Lighting EAD, PATSTROY-92 AD and Energeo EOOD, competing as part of tournament teams, alongside the Geotrading All Stars team.
The tournament’s official patron and initiator, Ivan Vutov, PhD Eng., opened the competition and welcomed all participants, emphasizing the importance of team spirit, friendship and mutual respect among colleagues. True to that spirit — and well beyond his role as organizer — Ivan Vutov, PhD Eng. stepped onto the pitch alongside the Geotrading AD players, leading by personal example in sportsmanship and leadership.
Group Stage
From the opening whistle, it was clear the participants had come prepared for a serious contest. Geotrading AD opened with a tactical goalless draw against ITR Services before delivering the tournament’s most emphatic result — a commanding 7:1 victory over Street Lighting. Their closely fought 2:2 draw against OK Ellatzite-Med proved to be one of the group stage’s most compelling encounters, packed with goalscoring opportunities and genuine sporting spirit on both sides.
OK Ellatzite-Med opened their campaign with a 2:0 win over Street Lighting before drawing a blank against ITR Services, who in turn rounded off the group with a 2:0 victory over Street Lighting. Both Geotrading AD and OK Ellatzite-Med advanced to the knockout rounds.
Group B provided its own share of spectacle. Geotechmin and Geostroy served up an open, attacking contest that ended 3:2, while RK Ellatzite-Med announced their credentials with a 2:0 win over Geotrading All Stars and followed it up with an impressive 4:1 defeat of Geotechmin.
Geostroy edged Geotrading All Stars 2:1, before RK Ellatzite-Med underlined their dominance with a resounding 5:0 demolition of Geostroy.
The surprise package of the group was Geotrading All Stars — a mixed selection of colleagues from across the group’s companies, united by their love of football — who rounded off their campaign with a creditable 2:0 victory over Geotechmin.
Knockout Stage
As the tournament progressed, the stakes rose and the football grew sharper. Geotrading AD and OK Ellatzite-Med confirmed their status as the day’s standout sides by advancing to the final, while RK Ellatzite-Med and Geotrading All Stars met in the third-place play-off. RK Ellatzite-Med left no room for doubt, sweeping aside Geotrading All Stars 6:0 to claim the bronze.
The final itself lived up to every expectation. Geotrading AD and OK Ellatzite-Med — the two most consistent sides throughout the day — produced a tense, tactical affair in which neither goalkeeper was seriously beaten. After a goalless ninety minutes, the championship would be decided from the penalty spot.
In a dramatic shootout, OK Ellatzite-Med held their nerve to claim the “Champions League” — Geotrading 2026 trophy, while Geotrading AD took a well-deserved runners-up position, confirming their quality both as hosts and as one of the tournament’s finest sides.
Awards Ceremony
Sports journalist Kamen Alipiev — known as Kedara — served as master of ceremonies, keeping the atmosphere electric throughout the day. The third-place trophy was presented by Geotrading AD CEO Ms. Rumyana Ivanova to RK Ellatzite-Med, captained by Eng. Vasil Shishkov. The runners-up award was handed to Geotrading AD captain Kiril Kachamanov by Ivan Vutov, PhD Eng., while the champion’s trophy was lifted by OK Ellatzite-Med captain Eng. Ivan Kunchev, presented by Prof. DSc. Eng. Tzolo Voutov.
The second edition of the “Champions League” once again proved that sport is a natural bridge between professional achievement and human connection. It brought colleagues and partners together in an atmosphere of competition, respect and camaraderie — a reminder that the best results are achieved when individual talent is backed by a strong team.
That is the spirit of Geotrading AD and the Geotechmin Group: to play as one, to support each other, and to share in every victory. A spirit that drives the work each day — and finds its most natural expression on the pitch.
