Seminars spread OFFS word
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Article summary
A series of seminars helped Open Fun Football Schools organisers share ideas.
Article body
More than 2,200 instructors, project leaders and coaches braved searing heat to participate in Open Fun Football Schools seminars this summer.
Project aims
The Open Fun Football Schools project, run by the Danish Cross Cultures Project Association, is a major slat of UEFA's social responsibility portfolio and helps youngsters foster tolerance and integration through football in the Balkans and the Caucasus. Thanks to the seminars, which saw each coach receive 60 hours of training, 125 Open Fun Football Schools have been held this summer.
Practical demonstrations
Seminars took place in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, F.Y.R. Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia. Between 25-28 June, 45 delegates gathered in Borjomi, Georgia, for one such meeting, with instructors like Lajos Kokai from Serbia and Filip Lubco from F.Y.R. Macedonia demonstrating special exercises for children on a pitch loaned by local side FC Borjomi.
Special guests
The event in Chisinau, Moldova, saw some important guests get a taste of the project with UEFA Executive Committee member Viacheslav Koloskov and UEFA's director of national associations Jacob Erel showing sincere interest in the seminar along with the Football Association of Moldova's president Pavel Cebanu and general secretary Nicolai Cebotari.
Visiting coaches
All the training events in the Caucasus were regionalised to allow guests from neighbouring countries to attend. The 72 guests at the seminar in Baku, Azerbaijan, included coaches from Georgia as well as Azerbaijan, while two events were organised in Armenia, with guests from Georgia also joining in the practical demonstrations at the home stadium of league champions FC Pyunik.