Football tournament for the World Day of Praying for orphans
Foundation “The Way Home” has organized a mini-football tournament, in the framework of the marathon that was held for the World Day of Praying for orphans.
On Wednesday, November 11th on the football field of the stadium “Spartak” it was played a football game of teams formed from orphans and children from crisis situations.
The football tournament was attended by teams of boarding schools of Odessa region – from village Jovten’ and village Utkonosovka. Also, as the hosts of the tournament have also played the guys from the team, “Brownie”, formed from OCF “The Way Home” for children from low-income and crises families, as well as children from families of internally displaced persons from the war zone.
All teams played strongly and as a result of intense struggle the first place won children from the boarding school of the village Utkonosovka. The second place was taken by the hosts of the tournament, and the third – the children of the village Zhovten.
One of the representatives of the tournament was the member of “The Way Home” Foundation, Stepan Koisa, that said: “These tournaments – is very strong initiative. Children played soccer, met new friends, it was a real charge of good mood for a long time. We have explained to everybody that the main thing here not to win but to participate, so no one was upset because of the negative result”. With the words of Stepan Koisa it is difficult not to agree – all children who participated in the tournament left the stadium in a great mood and we want to believe that participation in such an event it is the best change for their lives.
Next year the representatives of the tournament are planning to invite to the tournament even more participants.
Of course, we could not communicate with children after the games, and that’s what they told us:
Orhan, the captain team of the “Brownie” , at first we had a bad game with Utkonosovka. All of us were very upset after the defeat, but the coach reassured us and the second match we have spent much better. In general, it was a great tournament!
Nika, the defender of the “Brownie”: “I really liked it. It was a pity that other teams were not girls – usually we meet and then become friends. By herself, as football player, I’m still not happy, I know that need to train hard to play better”.
Kostya, the team player of Utkonosovka: We won two games, became winners, we were handed the cup. Although it was not the most important – the main thing that we visited Odessa, played soccer with other kids and in general had a good time!
Nikita the goalkeeper from village Jovten’: “Today I missed many goals I promise that the next time I will play better. But in general – we all liked it much! None of the boys didn’t get upset because of the result! By the way, we invited the guys from “The Way Home” to visit us, to play football with them. They promised the next spring to come to us!”
