Two youngsters to represent M’sia at F4F football programme in Russia
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia will be represented by two young footbal l ambassadors Imran Zakaria and Lauren Hoh at the Gazprom Football for Friendship ( F4F) programme to be held in Russia in conjunction with the International Day of Football and Friendship from June 8 to 15.
The duo will join kids from 211 countries and regions at the event in Moscow.
Sixteen- year- old Imran was selected as a coach to train young footballers for the F4F International Championship while 12-year- old Lauren will join the programme as a journalist covering the activities of the F4F programme attached to the International Children’s Press Centre.
The programme promotes key values of friendship, equality, fairness, health, peace, devotion, victory, traditions and honour among the participants.
The participants will wear the Friendship bracelet symbolising the peaceful sky, and a green string which symbolises the football field.
Personalities around the world will also join the celebration by conducting friendly matches, football tournaments and open training with star footballers.
The programme is supported by famous footballers, coaches, television hosts, actors from all over the world.
I n M a l ay s i a , F o o tb a l l Association of Malaysia ( FAM) marked the day with a friendly match at the FAM field in Kelana Jaya recently. The event saw participants tie the Friendship bracelet on each other.
“We are delighted to provide our support in the celebration of the International Day of Football and Friendship in Malaysia, as it is our constant endeavour to instill core human values among children,” FAM secretary-general Datuk Hamidin Mohd Amin said at the event.
“Initiatives such as these, highlights the power of football in breaking barriers, uniting youngsters and creating a positive impact in the local community. We are glad to support our young ambassadors in their efforts to promote these key values, which The Footbal l Association of Malaysia strongly believes in.”
The International Day of Football and Friendship
The first International Day of Footbal l and Friendship was announced by the Young Ambassadors of Gazprom’s Fo o tb a l l for F r i e nd s h ip programme in 2014.
Over the years, the events have featured famous football players, including Serbian defender Branislav Ivanovic and Russian goalkeeper Yuri Lodygin from Zenit ( Saint Petersburg), as well as Dutch striker Dirk Kuyt from Feyenoord ( Rotterdam) and the winner of the Euro 2004 Theodoros Zagorakis from the Greek national team.
Over 500,000 people have taken part in events connected to the programme.
It has been supported by hundreds of former star footballers including Germany footbal l legend Franz Beckenbauer, Didier Drogba of Ivory Coast, Spain’s Michel Salgado, Russia’s Andrey Arshavin and former captain of Portuguese national team Vitor Baia.
Footbal l for Friendship Programme
Gazprom’s Internat ional Children’s social programme Footbal l for Friendship was launched in 2013.
The project brings together boys and girls of di f ferent nat ional it ies and physical abilities.
Its aim is to develop children’s football and foster in children from different places respect for other cultures and nationalities.
The participants are young players, a s wel l a s young journalists covering the F4F events within the framework of The Football for Friendship International Children’s Press Centre.
The number of countries and regions increased from eight in 2013 to 211 this year.
For the past five years, more than 3,700 people have participated in the programme.
Footbal l for Friendship is supported by FIFA, UEFA, International Olympic Committee ( IOC), football federations of various countries, international children’s charity funds and world’s leading football clubs.