Danone Cup draws stars
NORWEGIAN football sensation Ada Hegerberg, the first female “Ballon d’or” winner, partners with the Danone Nations Cup.
Faithful to her beliefs and values in favour of gender equality, Hegerberg joins an esteemed roster of ambassadors, including former top French footballer Zinedine Zidane; ex-banyana Banyana player Amanda Dlamini; and Carles Puyol, retired Barcelona player, with a common mission to prove sport is a force for positive societal change.
The Danone Nations Cup, the largest Under-12 football tournament in the world, will host its 2019 world finals between October 10-12. Games on the final day will be played at the RCDE Stadium in Barcelona, Spain.
Hegerberg, 24, widely recognised as one of the best female football players, will join the movement as a global ambassador and adviser. Hegerberg will support this event aimed at empowering young athletes to shape the society they live in and showcasing how sport can truly be a force for positive change.
Hegerberg and The Danone Nations Cup join forces to instil values of equality, respect, and openness among the youth participating in the event.
She has taken the global stage by storm through her perseverance, excellence and determination to shed a light on women’s football.
She began her career playing for NM Cupen in 2012 and was selected for the Norwegian national team in 2013. Since then, her career has taken off after her club, Olympique Lyonnais, won the Champions League four years in a row. A historic milestone in her career, Hegerberg was awarded the first women’s “Ballon d’or” last year, in addition to the prestigious “BBC Footballer of the Year” award in 2017 and this year.
“Playing football isn’t just about scoring goals, it’s about the values, respect, fair play, and commitment that go into the entire process. This year’s Women’s World Cup has received global fanfare and recognition.
“I’ve partnered with the Danone Nations Cup to provide a longer-term platform and opportunity for girls and boys around the world to play football and experience the life-changing moments that sport can bring. I’ve been fortunate enough to embark on a journey that has completely changed my life, largely thanks to the power of football,” said Hegerberg.
The Danone Nations Cup believes that by playing football, children can change their perceptions of, and contribute to, a better, stronger society.
One of the cornerstones of this ambition for change is a strong message in favour of gender equality. While the Cup has always been open to children of all nationalities, backgrounds, and genders, it has gone a step further in encouraging girls to partake by launching an all-girls’ tournament in 2017.
This year, the love of football has brought together more than 36 000 girls from 12 countries. The world finals will see eight countries sending female teams.
Rebonwe Primary School in Ivory Park, Gauteng, will represent South Africa. The South African boys teams travelling to Barcelona are 2018 winners Nomlinganiselo Primary, from Crossroads, Western Cape, and Muzuvukile Primary from Richards Bay in Kwazulu-natal.