Prince Ali inaugurates Zaatari football field for girls
shaheennews
HRH Prince Ali bin Al Hussein, Chairman and Founder of Asian Football Development Project (AFDP), inaugurated a football field at the Za’tari refugee camp in Mafraq, on September 17, 2018.
Established by AFDP, UEFA Foundation for Children and Lay’s, two old playgrounds in northern refugee camps have been upgraded into new football stadiums. One dedicatedfor girls in Zaatari Camp, while the other is dedicated for girls and boys.
Prince Ali was joined by the Secretary General of UEFA Foundation for Children, Urs Kluser, and Head of PepsiCo Middle East and North Africa (MENA), Mazen Al Masri.
“When children enter these stadiums, they will have the courage to live their big dreams… These children are soccer players, defenders, attackers and goalkeepers, referees, fans, all of whom enjoy fun times and learn to play as a one team. Ultimately, their lives will change after the whistle of the last referee is blown,” Prince Ali said.
Al-Masri said that such projects in Zaatari Camp enable youth to catch up with their passion and enhance the spirit of social collaboration.
UEFA President, Slovenian Alexander Severin, who visited the opening ceremony of the first stadium in 2017, said that the two stadiums were designed to create a daily activity for children who can enjoy their time while maintaining the spirit of childhood despite the war experience.
