"Play
Soccer Make Peace" Tournament Ends
By Julu M. Johnson, Jr.
Eight youth, community based and voluntary groups have completed a series
of Play Soccer Make Peace! in Liberia. The tournament was held from
24-26 September 2004 at the Youth Soccer Field on Lynch Street and
the Stephen Tolbert Estate Sports Field in Gardnersville, utilizing
under-nineteen teams.
In the final match on Sunday, the Perfect Gentlemen of Stephen
Tolbert Estate defeated an under-19 selection of the Press Union of
Liberia two goals to zero. In the Third Place Match played earlier
that day, the Center for Media Studies and Peace Building (CEMESP)
defeated the Liberian Ex-combatants Anxious for Development (LEAD)
6-4 in post-match penalty kicks. Other participants in the
tournament were the J.J. Roberts Scholarship Students Association (JJRSSA),
Youth Movement Against the Proliferation of Small Arms, Optimist
Youths of Sinkor and the Sea Pro Under-17.
Later in the closing program, Play Soccer Make Peace! badges were
issued to players and officials of the participating teams, game
officials, and special guests.
Participating teams earned awards of US$500 each, while the
fourth, third, second and first place winners took cash prizes of
one, two, three and five thousand United States dollars,
respectively. The participating organizations are expected to
utilize their prizes in developing peace related projects.
Guests at the occasion included Youth & Sports Minister Wheatonia
Dixon Barnes, Dr. Oumar Ndongo of the Mano River Peace Forum, Sidi
Diawara of the National Democratic Institute, UNMIL Media Consultant
Dr. Abiodun Onadipe, officials of the participating organizations
and thousands of residents from the Gardnersville area.
Other personalities who graced the tournament were the Ministers
of Education and Gender and Development, as well as the Secretary
General of the Liberia Football Association, and the Secretary
General of the Liberia Women Initiative.
Play Soccer Make Peace! is a project of the World Association of
Non Governmental Organizations (WANGO), with funding from the Sun
Moon Foundation to help encourage and develop youth soccer in 44
different countries around the world.
It is a model to teach youth of various cultures the basic skills
in sport along with a foundation of ethical behavior and
sportsmanship. An emphasis is placed on creating a culture of peace
through teaching the principles of shared vision, discipline,
teamwork, and respect for the opponent.
Brazilian soccer legend Pele is a supporter of the initiatives of
the Sun Moon Soccer Foundation, and supports their work to develop
youth soccer.
The goal of Play Soccer Make Peace! is to hold tournaments in 44
different countries using established youth soccer teams and
associations. All participating teams agree to the principles and
code of conduct, and after the tournament are encouraged to
participate with the other teams from the 44 countries in a
worldwide community network to spread the vision.
By promoting soccer and teaching the principles of teamwork,
self-control and respect for opponents to the youth of the world---
Play Soccer Make Peace! seeks to create a foundation for true world
peace.
At the close of the project in Monrovia, a special statement by
the Secretary General of WANGO, Taj Hamad, was read by Press Union
of Liberia Vice President Malcolm Joseph.
In the statement, Mr. Hamad said the future world would be a
God-centered one of love and heart. "This culture cannot be achieved
by military force or politics. The culture of love and heart will
result from the arts, from hobbies and from sports, and especially
soccer."
Mr. Hamad noted that young people can be most productive and
meaningful when they concentrate on sports, adding that this makes
them single-minded and truly exhilarated. He however regretted that
"many youngsters focus on drugs, drink and sex which are
destructive."
He added that Play Soccer Make Peace! is constructive, and is
based on the ideals of faith, discipline, self control, teamwork and
harmony which, he said, are also similar to the ideals of WANGO.
The WANGO Secretary General then called upon the participants to
take Play Soccer Make Peace! with them and to share it with others,
and "grow together with it." We all like to win, he said, and added
that "under the Play Soccer Make Peace! banner we can all be
winners!" |
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