JOHANNESBURG, July 12, 2010 - Laureus-supported project the Mathare Youth Sports Association (MYSA) from Kenya retained the Football for Hope tournament in South Africa at the weekend.
MYSA, who won the Laureus Sport for Good Award in 2004 and were nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize, followed their success in Germany in 2006 by winning a penalty shootout against Serch and Greem from Nigeria in a closely fought final.
The tournament was the climax of Football for Hope which featured a number of other Laureus-supported Sport for Good Foundation projects as part of the FIFA World Cup celebrations.
Ten Laureus funded organisations from across the world took part in the two-week festival of education, culture and football with a mixed football tournament one of the highlights.
Laureus World Sports Academy member and World Cup winner Marcel Desailly said: "I have been to visit the Mathare Youth project and have been hugely impressed by what I have seen. It makes such a huge difference to the lives of so many young people and based on the coaching and ability I have seen, I can't say I'm surprised that they won the Football for Hope tournament once again."
Based in one of the largest and poorest slums in Nairobi in which HIV/AIDS and other diseases are widespread, the project has pioneered the use of football as a tool to encourage co-operation and raise self-esteem in the young people of the community. Last year, MYSA organised 14,204 matches for 16,830 young people, playing in 1,251 teams in 156 leagues.
The event was staged as part of the World Cup to celebrate the power of football in creating positive social change; showcase and promote best practice in the field of development through football; and promote exchange and dialogue between participating delegations.
Laureus Sport for Good Foundation Director Ned Wills said: "The Football for Hope tournament has proved to be a huge success in South Africa and we're delighted that so many Laureus supported projects from across the world were able to participate.
"The core values and intentions of the festival, to use sport as a tool for promoting peace and development amongst young people, fit perfectly with the values of the Laureus World Sports Academy and Laureus Sport for Good Foundation which continues to grow thanks to the support we receive from sporting legends and major international brands."
The Laureus supported projects that attended Football for Hope were: - MYSA (Kenya); Moving the Goal Posts (Kenya); Spirit of Soccer (Cambodia); Magic Bus (India); Coaching for Hope (Mali); Kick 4 Life (Lesotho); Perez Centre for Peace (Israel); Grassroots Soccer (South Africa); Sports Dans La Ville (France); Streetleague (UK)
Football for Hope was staged by FIFA, streetfootballworld, the Organising Committee of the 2010 FIFA World Cup and the City of Johannesburg.
The Laureus Foundation addresses social challenges through a worldwide programme of sports related community development initiatives. Since its inception Laureus has raised more than €35 million for projects which have helped to improve the lives of over one million young people. Laureus currently supports 78 community sports projects around the world.
The Foundation addresses issues in particular involving, but not limited to, young people impacted by social exclusion, gun and gang violence, discrimination, community integration, peace and reconciliation, and education.
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