ZCZC
BSP-19
FOOTBALL-FRIENDSHIP
BD boys gears up for friendship soccer in Russia
DHAKA, June 4, 2018 (BSS) – Golam Rafi Khan and Rafat Shams, the selected 12 year old young ambassadors from Bangladesh will be on their way to Russia on June 8th to participate in the 6th Gazprom Football for Friendship International Programme.
They will be joined by kids from over 210 countries around the world, in Moscow.
Golam Rafi Khan, selected in the role of a defender will be a part of the 32 International Teams of Friendship that play against each other in the Gazprom Football for Friendship International Championship.
The young footballer will be a part of the “Galapagos Sea Lion” team, and will undergo a 3 day training camp in Moscow, to get used to the playing conditions and get ample practice with his team, before the start of the championship.
Each International Team of Friendship will be trained by 14-16 year old young coaches from different countries. The young footballers will also participate in workshops and sessions, conducted by renowned celebrities. Golam Rafi Khan, who hails from Narayanganj District, started playing football at the age of 3.
He has participated in football tournaments across the country and has played a pivotal role in getting his team to win numerous championships. He currently plays for Madanganj Football Academy, and dreams to play for the national team, like his idol, Sabina Khatun. He has also been awarded as the best defender in many of the tournaments that he has participated in.
A Real Madrid FC fan, his talented, young footballer believes it is important to promote friendship, equality and peace because he believes that we need each of these three things to brighten our world.
MORE/SG/SMM/1600
BSP-20
FOOTBALL-FRIENDSHIP-2-DHAKA
At the F4F Programme in Russia, Golam Rafi Khan will be accompanied by Rafat Shams, who will act as a young journalist and cover all the local and global activities of the program as part of the International Children’s Press Center.
The Press Centre acts as hub for the young journalist, who gather information, make reports, write news articles and prepare materials on the initiatives implemented as part of the Programme.
Rafat Shams is a sports enthusiast who hails from Dhaka. A student of Manarat Dhaka International School and College, his first exposure to football was in school, where he saw some of the students play the sport in the ground, which made him want to try and play this sport. A Real Madrid FC fan, Rafat considers Cristiano Ronaldo as his favorite player. In his free time, Rafat likes to paint, cycle, skateboard, and travel.
Golam Rafi Khan and Rafat Shams will also participate in the Sixth Football for Friendship International Children’s Forum in Russia, which will provide the youngsters an opportunity to meet their peers from other countries, share their experiences, and discuss with famous footballers and journalists on how to promote key values of the F4F Programme around the world.
The International Children’s F4F Forum will be participated by famous sportsmen, journalists, and public figures who support the project and provide their thoughts and inspiration to the young athletes.
The young ambassadors will also participate in the Nine Values School programme, where they will be taught about the 9 key values of the F4F programme (friendship, equality, fairness, health, peace, devotion, victory, traditions and honour, under the guidance of young coaches and the supervision of famous players.
Since 2013, PJSC Gazprom has been organizing the International Children’s social programme Football for Friendship is supported by FIFA, UEFA, International Olympic Committee, football federations of various countries, international children’s charity funds, and world’s leading football clubs.
32 International Teams of Friendship were formed during the Open Draw, as well as playing roles for each Young Player from each country (goalkeeper, defender, midfielder or forward) were determined.
BSS/SG/SMM/1605 hrs