A Charity For Children
MTG United for Peace gives children the chance to meet and make friends through football.
Hot in the city at MTG United for Peace Cup in Slovenia
Kicking the ball around with bare feet, on the sand – volleyball style apart from the obvious use of legs rather than hands – that was how the boy’s teams at MTG United for Peace Cup played in the Slovenian capital of Ljubljana. It was one of the hottest days of the year, 35 degrees Celsius, on Saturday 9 July, when the MTG United for Peace Cup was being held in the city. But the competitors, aged 12-14, didn’t complain:
“Not at all, the boys were playing like professionals until the final whistle,” said TV3 Slovenia’s volunteer Anja Hren.
The boys were all eager to try and win the tournament and get to represent their country in the finals in Oslo, Norway, this autumn. Five teams, each consisting of six players, competed in the blazing sun accompanied by a DJ and cheered on by cheerleaders. It was a great day for the boys; all associated with the non-governmental philanthropic charity organization, the Slovenian Association of Friends of Youth, which works with children from unfortunate backgrounds.
On arrival in the morning each of the boys was given a team t-shirt and a goody bag from the sponsors. Two professional players, Marko Kovjenić and Miroslav Grbić from one of the best Slovenian football clubs, Domžale, were there to chat to the young players and offer them some advice. Needless to say, the boys were all very excited to meet their idols.
Despite the weather being so hot, no one suffered from sun stroke or any other injuries. Everyone had a brilliant day covered in sun lotion, drinking plenty of water and resting in the shade in between matches, playing the game they all love – football!
A lot of family members and friends also helped make the day special for the young football players. And before the final, a competition took place to see who could score the most goals.
The team that won the tournament came from the mountainous region of Gorenjska and the six players will be joined by another four boys, the best from each of the rest of the teams, to make a full team of ten for the trip to Norway later on this year.
