São Paulo – Children from six Arab nations are going to be in Brazil in October. Together with small children from over 34 nations, kids from Tunisia, Morocco, the Emirates, Egypt, Algeria and Saudi Arabia are going to dispute the Danone Cup of Nations, between the 8th and 11th. The sports football competition is promoted by French company Danone, a globally famous yoghurt brand. The cup includes teams from public and private schools and clubs.
In each country there is an internal dispute until the champion going to the global dispute is reached. This is the first time that the final takes place outside France. According to a spokesperson for Danone, the children will stay at the Sesc-Bertioga, a leisure complex on the coast of the state of São Paulo, in the city of Bertioga, where there will be playoffs. At the site, the team from each country will have a house. The final should take place in the city of São Paulo, at Pacaembu stadium.
The Danone Cup of Nations is disputed by boys and girls aged 10 to 12. All compete together. The teams may be mixed or made up of just boys or just girls. According to a spokesperson for Danone, most of the teams are only boys teams. This is the case with the Brazilian team, from Rio de Janeiro, which won the national phases and should represent Brazil in the final in São Paulo. It is the Centro de Futebol Zico S.E.
French player Zinedine Zidane, who is the international godfather of the competition, should come to Brazil for the final, on October 11th. He should deliver the prizes to the winning children. Player Cafu is the Brazilian godfather of the competition. The Cup is recognised by the International Federation of Association Football (Fifa) and has the support of the São Paulo City Sports and Leisure Secretariat.
Participation includes a total of 40 teams and 560 children. Each team should also have a youth reporter, to collect information for the country about the Cup. Apart from Brazil and the six Arab nations, the matches will also be played by children from countries like South Africa, Germany, England, Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Guatemala, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Poland, Romania, Russia, Switzerland and the Ukraine, among others.
*Translated by Mark Ament
