October 2, 2023 – The Collinsville Kahoks and Granite City Warriors announced they will unite to host the first annual Paz Cup boys soccer game on Thursday, October 12, 2023 at Gene Baker Field in Granite City.
The event celebrates local photographer Alex Paz of Paz Images, and provides an outpouring of community support for him as he battles liver cancer.
Paz is a GCHS grad & former boys soccer player, but also a proud member of the Kahok Family. He is at most Kahok Athletics and Collinsville community events capturing memories with his camera for everyone to enjoy.
The two high schools will meet on Thursday, October 12, 2023, in Granite City for the inaugural Paz Cup. A traveling trophy will be presented to the winning team each year by Paz at the conclusion of the match.
Paz was recently diagnosed with liver cancer and is in need of a liver transplant. During this year’s Paz Cup, KAHOKstrong and GCHS students will sell 50/50 tickets and accept donations for him.
In addition, fans can also purchase Paz Cup apparel from a special online store that closes at midnight on October 3.* Both teams will wear the t-shirts in warmups. Click HERE to access the store.
Items are available in both Kahok Purple and Warrior Red. The front features the Paz Cup logo, the back has the letters “YNWA” and a green ribbon representing the fight against liver cancer. The YNWA letters stand for “You Never Walk Alone,” which is the slogan of Paz’s favorite European Premier League soccer team: Liverpool FC.
The second annual Paz Cup will be held on Oct. 17, 2024 at Collinsville High School.
*The brief timeline of the online store is to accommodate the quick turnaround to have items ready prior to the Paz Cup game on October 12.