About 1000 young football players, without referees, gave their best to help children in need
With a winner SOS Children’s Villages of Greece his soccer tournament is over Pan-Erythraean Football Club. About 1000 young football players aged 6-12 years from 25 clubs took part in the tournament that was held for the 9th year, from Friday June 9th to Sunday June 11th at the Municipal Stadium “Fotis Vardaxis” in Nea Erythraia.
This year, the event had a special purpose as instead of participation costs, money was collected in a “charity piggy bank” for the great work done by the SOS Children’s Villages of Greece.
“It was a great pleasure for us to host so many teams in our facilities and to give the opportunity to all children, from the youngest age, to play football on natural grass. My philosophy is that football is a Great Celebration. This is what I want to convey with such actions and this type of event. In this way I got my pay seeing the children enjoying football and playing happily and smiling. I am also happy that in this way we offer to our fellow man and this year the money will be given to SOS Children’s Villages“, said the president of the Pan-Erythraean Football Association, Mr. Tony Aharonian.
For his part, Mr. Antonis Alakiotis, president of the SOS Children’s Villages of Greece, noted: “I want to thank the administration and the executives of the Pan-Erythraic P.S. and especially their president Mr. Tony Aharonian for their support to the SOS Children’s Villages of Greece. I want to inform you that hundreds of children are being raised and supported throughout Greece for 40 years. I want to congratulate the hundreds of parents and children who participated in this two-day football tournament at the Pan-Erythraikos stadium with the main purpose of playing well, competing and not competing! No referees, no winners and losers because in sports everyone is a winner. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart for your support. And next year!”.
The technical director of Panerythraikos, Mr. Yiannis Dimitriou, stated: “The organization of this tournament has a festive character, because football is a celebration. Football is fun, don’t forget it’s a game. The offer is from all of us and from each child of each group that participated separately».
The children’s football teams that participated: Panerythraikos PS, AE CHALANDRIOU, NIKITES ANTHOUSAS, COERVER, NIKI DROSSIAS, OROPOS, AE KIFISIAS, JUVENTUS, DIONYSOS, ELEFTHEROUPOLI, IASON ILIOU, OSFP VOULAS, HERMIS LIOSION, OSFP PENDELIS, PAS GALATSI, MAROYSSI CITY, THIS EAS NEAS MAKRIS, S.A. HERACLEIOU, COLLEGE OF ATHENS.
A few words about SOS Children’s Villages
With an extensive presence in 136 countries and 70 years of experience in prevention, alternative family care and supported independent living programs, SOS Children’s Villages is a leading organization for the protection of children’s rights worldwide, with a focus on children who have lost or are at risk of losing their family their. In Greece, SOS Children’s Villages were founded in 1975. With the goal of every child growing up in a family, they implement programs and actions in three axes:
- Strengthening the Family, with 10 Child and Family Support Centers and 6 Learning and Pedagogical Support Centers throughout Greece with the aim of restoring dysfunctions within the family and preventing the risk of children being removed from its context,
- Development and Promotion of Adoption in collaboration with UNICEF, as a partner in the “Child Guarantee” program of the European Commission, and
- Alternative Care with 4 SOS Children’s Villages and the SOS Children’s Hostel. The International Association of SOS Children’s Villages is a constant interlocutor and partner, at the international and national level both in the European Union and its member states and in international initiatives and collaborations, such as the Opening Doors for Europe campaign.
Source: Skai
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