São Paulo – The football team of kids school Al Jazeera Academy (AJA), in Qatar, should represent Brazil in the "Under 16 School World Cup", to take place in the Arab country in November. The initiative is promoted by the Embassy of South Africa in Doha, which started campaign "Adopt a Nation – My School Adventure 2010", to simulate a World Cup among schools in Qatar and to promote the 2010 World Cup, which is going to take place in the African country in 2010.
The embassy of Brazil to Doha and the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce are going to sponsor the uniforms of the 13 players and goalkeeper of the AJA team during the championship, from November 1st to 30th. Apart from Brazil, another seven nations that have already been classified to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa should be represented by a school in Qatar. Campaign "Adopt a Nation – My School Adventure 2010" was turned to the embassies of the countries represented in Doha.
Yesterday, a diplomat from the Brazilian embassy in the Arab country, Claudia Assaf, personally delivered the uniforms to players. According to her, students at the school were very pleased to represent Brazil. One of the boys told Claudia that he himself would always like to be representing the Brazilian team on entering a playing field. "Others said that they would honour the shirt," wrote the diplomat to ANBA by e-mail. The coordinator of the AJA team, Vito Cerebona, was also present at the delivery of the uniforms and thanked the Arab Brazilian Chamber for its sponsorship.
Apart from adopting the Under 16 football teams, the embassies of each country have also agreed to participate in friendly games, attended by the ambassador, taking flags and inviting their communities in Doha to watch the matches and cheer. According to a press statement by the embassy of South Africa, the championship’s target is to show how the sport may benefit adolescents and children, as well as promoting the World Cup.
According to Claudia, the city of Doha is already eagerly awaiting the friendly match between the Brazilian and English national teams, to take place in the city on November 14th. The match in the Arab country is part of the strategy of the Arab government to promote its candidacy to host the 2022 World Cup. According to the diplomat, Qatar is not sparing efforts and investment to promote the country. In case chosen, this will be the first time that a nation from the Middle East hosts a World Cup.
*Translated by Mark Ament
