UBP’s football team has won the League D title in the Geneva Corporate Football Association championship, following a remarkable season marked by team spirit, resilience and determination.
The UBP football team was put together by colleagues who shared a passion for football and saw an opportunity to represent the Bank in Geneva’s inter-company football league. What began as some informal fun quickly became a collective project, bringing together employees from across the organisation in a setting outside the workplace.
The team first entered the 7-a-side championship, which is played from September to November. As all new teams start in League D, the competition was particularly stiff, with each side aiming for promotion from the outset. Although UBP narrowly missed out on moving up during its first campaign, the experience confirmed the value of the initiative: high-quality matches, a strong sense of camaraderie, and the pleasure of competing together as one team.
Encouraged by this first experience, UBP then entered the 11-a-side championship, which is held from March to June. This second competition represented a new challenge, both sporting and organisational. The team had to build a larger squad while managing a series of injuries, with more than eleven players unavailable at one point during the season.
Despite these struggles, and several matches played with fewer players than their opponents, the team showed remarkable solidarity and commitment. With six wins, one draw and three defeats, UBP finished second in the league, securing promotion to League C and qualifying for the final against another bank, a team that had already beaten UBP twice during the season.
The final proved to be a true test of character. Down to ten players after only ten minutes and trailing 2–0 after half an hour, UBP refused to give up. The team staged an impressive comeback to win 3–2, and claimed the League D title.
Beyond the trophy, this achievement reflects the positive role that sport can play within a company. The UBP football team’s journey highlights the importance of teamwork, solidarity, resilience and shared commitment, values that resonate strongly with the Bank’s culture.
By making UBP’s colours shine on the pitch, the team demonstrated the same drive that guides the Bank every day: the drive you demand.
"Preparation, mutual trust and the will to never give up – that’s what helps us win on the pitch, and it’s what drives us every day at UBP.”
