The 1st ever gathering of European organisations working in the Development through Football field is – since Thursday morning – a reality. The 24 delegations taking part in the 4-day-long tournament arrived safely and, for most of them, after a long journey at the Hotel Mladost, located in the stunning surroundings of the Sutjeska National Park near Foca, where the first half of the activities were also scheduled to take place. All groups, 12 from the Balkan region and 12 from the rest of Europe, were warmly received by the streetfootballworld-Berlin crew as well as the local implementing organisation and streetfootballworld Network Member, Football Friends Foca.

BRINGING NEW LIFE BACK TO THE REGION

In the years following the devastating war in former Yugoslavia, the region of Foca witnessed overall limited development. Therefore, hosting an event as unique as FOCA 08 was among other things one way to help revive not only the city of Foca but the area around it as well. The resort in the Sutjeska National Park opened its doors for the first time this season in order to host over 300 players, coaches, coordinators, organisers and visitors. Reasonably enough, this added a particular flavour to the striking environment of the Valley of the Heroes – as that part of Bosnia & Herzegovina has been called after fierce battles dating back in WWII.

THE GAME IS ON!

On Thursday morning, an introductory meeting took place in order for the team coordinators to briefly present their organisations and get to know the basics about each other’s work. There, streetfootballworld Network Director Vladimir Borkovic and FOCA 08 Coordinator George Springborg also took the chance to welcome the delegations and ensure that any existing or potential logistical issues would be efficiently resolved. The first day of the street football tournament then saw the 24 teams successfully crossing their swords for the first time under the Balkan sun. The games of this 1st phase were played in two different courts, one on artificial grass and one on asphalt – covering that way both the ‘street’ and the ‘football’ part of the event – and offering the first strong emotions for both players and spectators.

NETWORKING - IN A VARIETY OF WAYS

As scheduled and hoped for, the opening day of FOCA 08 also offered the opportunity for both formal and informal networking. The morning and afternoon were supplemented by two different workshops: one on Networking, where streetfootballworld Network Development Manager, Thomas Weidner, began setting the stage for a common cooperation platform for Development through Football organisations on the European level, and the second on the Fair Play Football methodology, where a team of experts from streetfootballworld Network Member organisation KICKFAIR introduced the concept, which was also to be followed throughout the tournament. In addition to these official workshops, all teams and everyone involved in the event had the chance to socialise during the ‘Balkan style’ barbecue and the concert that was organised in the premises, in the evening following the matches.

George Springborg ( Special Projects Manager )

Berlin  ( Germany )

+49 176 2408 4038