With barely three months left for the tournament, we have managed to reach another milestone on Facebook. This weekend we passed namely 100,000 likes on our Facebook page.

Since Gothia Cup created his page on Facebook in 2009, the number of ”fans/likes” increased steadily. More and more each year choose to be a part of The World Youth Cup online. Today, almost exactly four years after the start  the page has reached more than 100 thousand fans.

This is to us at Gothia Cup absolutely amazing and this sets new goals for the future.

Kevin Phillips started his career in BH Soccer Academy and played Gothia Cup in 1988. With Kevin as right back, the team got to win the tournament after defeating Bordeaux Olympic in the final with 1-0.

As a professional footballer Kevin was moved to a striker roll and topped his career when he in 2000 became the Premier League’s top scorer with 30 goals for his club Sunderland. The same year, he won the Golden Boot, awarded to Europe’s top scorer.

Overall, Kevin has scored 248 goals as a professional footballer and played nine seasons in England’s top league, the Premier League, in which he has represented Sunderland, Southampton, Aston Villa and Birmingham City.

On those merits, Kevin Phillips was elected to the Gothia All Star Team where he joins, among others, Andrea Pirlo, Xabi Alonso and Alan Shearer.

Gothia All Star Team is a collection of players who played the finals in the Gothia Cup and had a professional careers in football.

This year we are building our own arena at Heden – The Gothia Arena. A new stadium for the finals in the tournament’s heart, where everyone can see football from around the world when the Gothia World Youth Cup is held here in Gothenburg in July.

The Gothia Finals 2013 will be played on July 19th and 20th. 13 exciting games played by 26 teams will encounter to win the cup. The finals this year will be played at Gothia Arena. A temporary arena for 14,000 spectators will be built in the middle of the tournament’s heart in Heden.

The arena will be completed before the tournament starts and it will be used during the tournament on all six game days. A total of 58 matches will be played at the new stadium.

Gamla Ullevi will be occupied by the European Championship for women and Robbie Williams will have his concert at Ullevi. We knew then that we needed a new solution.

- A large arena at Heden, which is the heart of the tournament, will give more people the opportunity to follow the Gothia Cup on site, says Gothia Cup tournament leader Lena Rönnefors.

- The new Gothia Arena will be a better framing of the tournament. A new Center Court. During the final days this will created a fantastic atmosphere when we hopefully fill the stadium.

As usual, Viasat will broadcast live from Gothia Cup. Overall, there will be approx. 40 hours broadcasting from the new arena. Viasat will broadcast the thrilling playoffs July 17-18 and on  July 19-20 the 13 finals.

The month of March has gone fast here in Congo. With the knowledge that it’s only a month left before we go back to Sweden, we want to make the most of the time here in Congo and especially the football school. Lovely memories and experiences we’ve had during the past six months, and the best of course together with all the children and leaders. Therefore, I dedicate this newsletter a little extra for those who, by being unique, make Gothia to a special football school here in Brazzaville.

15-year-old Rose is a girl that has really impressed me. Even though Rose has only played football for about six months, she is one of the few who  always been in training despite the sometimes low attendance of girl teams. But what especially makes it always good to see Rose is her open and positive attitude. Although she is new at Gothia she is already a person who makes other people feel at home both on and off the field.

A guy who can really light up a day at Gothia is 12-year old Benit. He’s always smiling and often starts the day by politely asking in Swedish: -”Hej hur mår du?-  Jag mår bra”. (Hi, how are you? I am fine) He is a lovely guy who is curious to learn and he presently knows many other phrases in swedish.

Another girl who is truly great is France. As the only girl on Thomas Ankara, one can imagine that she does not always has it easy. But France has an obvious role and is a real role model. She has the ability to gather the group and is a really good team player. She is by the way one of four girls from Gothia been selected to go to Point Noire to be part of a nationwide camp for girls. Maybe it will be something great of her in football one day? She is totally worth it!

In March, we celebrated the International Women’s Day. First, with a full day excursion for all the girls to Mansimou and also a day of great music and sports. The leaders talked to the girls about the importance of sports and encouraged curios people who came by to look to be part of Gothia School. The Gymnastics team had a great and popular show with a lot of flips and dancing to Shakira’s ”waka waka”, and there was even time for a little volleyball and soccer for everyone.

Every Saturday of march it has been played friendly games at Mfilo. From the players’ point of view, it means a lot to play and compete against other teams and a match at Gothia means a festivity for the entire neighborhood. Young and old gather and the walls around the field get packed of curious spectators. Although the coaches are trying to avoid it, it is difficult to prevent the storm of children that rushes out on the field and jump and scream in sheer joy when a goal is scored (not least for the home team). It says a lot about the mood and the joy when it’s game time at CF Gothia Brazzaville.

Thanks to all of you who are part of and support the football school in Congo-Brazzaville!

Greetings from the football volunteers – By Stina