It was São Paulo Futebol Clube that won the Qualifying tournament Meet The World recently played in Cajamar, Sao Paolo, Brazil. The team consists of players from 13 to 14 years and won the final against Louverias school team with 6-5 after penalties (1-1 after full time).

Victory in the Meet the World means that São Paulo FC participates in the Gothia Cup this summer. It’s the first time the team travels abroad to represent their club and their school.

- I could never dream to go abroad so early in life and i am proud to represent my team and Brazil in such a big and important tournament, the Gothia Cup, says São Paulo’s left midfielder Igor Martins, one of the team’s top players during the tournament.

A total of 16 teams from different regions participated in this year’s Meet the World tournament in Brazil. The winning team’s coach João Paulo has already begun to prepare for this summer’s participation in the Gothia Cup.

- We collect information about the other participating teams in the tournament so we can prepare ourselves in the best way and offer good resistance. Our team has every opportunity to show how talented team it is and hopefully produce good results. We also know that it will be tough because there are many good and technical teams participating in the Gothia Cup.

This year’s Schenker Logistics Award will be presented for the 30th time. The three finalists are now ready. In addition to the Gothia Cup is the Hallsberg Terminal and the Port of Varberg also nominated. – It’s great that the organization around the Gothia Cup gets noticed. Not least all the volunteers who do a great job and make the arrangement possible, says Lena Rönnefors, tournament leader for Gothia Cup.

The nomination is justified as follows: Through advanced event logistics and efficient use of existing infrastructure Gothia Cup has been able to grow organizational and become the world’s largest youth football tournament. For one week, 4000 weather-dependant games are played on 110 pitches in three municipalities. All changes must be informed in four languages ​​and to more than 20 000 participants, officials and relatives.

The winner will be announced at a ceremony in Gothenburg in May 22.

This year, one of the Gothia Cup’s most loyal clubs should celebrate a little extra. Makati FC from the Philippines takes part for the 30th consecutive year in the tournament. – Gothia Cup is a fantastic experience that gives our players the opportunity to compete at international top level. It is also a tournament marked by a festive atmosphere, passion, excitement and camaraderie, says Mataki FC’s founder and CEO Tomas Lozano.

Mataki Football Club was founded in 1976 in the Philippine capital Manila with the aim to introduce football to children and adolescents aged 3 to 18 years. Club’s main merit is winning the Gothia Cup and Helsinki Cup 1985

- We are proud to participate in the Gothia Cup for the 30th time and look forward to a memorable experience this summer. The tournament is so much more than football. It’s about young people from all over the world meet and exchange experiences with each other. It creates memories and lifelong friends, says Tomas Lozano

Of the foreign clubs, the only who have been around more times is German club TSV Friesen Hänigsen. Overall, the club played the Gothia Cup 31 times.

- I am always glad when I see that so many teams participate  year after year in the Gothia Cup. It is an acknowledgment that the arrangement is appreciated and that we offer memorable meetings and events both on and off the ground, says Lena Rönne Fors, tournament director of the Gothia Cup.

Three foreign clubs participate in the Gothia Cup for the 25th time 2012. These are: AD Cantolao (PER), Blackburn Celtic (ENG) and Helsingin JK (FIN).

Other teams who celebrate a little extra is Pitray Olier (FRA) and Grand Bodø IK (NOR) in the 2012 edition of the tournament has participated 20 times each in the Gothia Cup.

The Gothia Cup brochure is now available in an interactive format for iPad. Read all about the tournament on a new interactive way. Browse pictures and watch movies from the tournament.

The Gothia Cup Magazine is now available for iPad. Read all about the tournament in a new interactive way. fb.me/MLdDy11Z— Gothia Cup (@Gothia_Cup) March 30, 2012

The Gothia Cup brochure is now available as an ”app” for iPad. You can find all the information you need about the tournament. You can read about the opening ceremony, disco, leaders party, finals, matches, and much much more. Scroll through the pages using your finger, sweep over images to see the slideshow and click on the links to read more. You can also view films from the tournament highlights.

Download the Gothia Cup magazine for iPad from the App Store.

Download the app and read more here.

Sunday March 4th is a date that I will forever remember. It was the day when an armory in the district Mpila in Brazzaville exploded and several neighborhoods were leveled to the ground. Hundreds of people died, thousands were injured and the entire population was reminded of the terrible things that happened during the Civil War. I can reassure you that all children and leaders at Gothia School are OK, and things have gradually returned to normal. However, most of the people here carry this event in recent memory, and jump a little extra each time you hear a bang in traffic or during a lightning storm.

The activities in Brazzaville has, as I said slowly gone back to normal, and we have had internal matches between our various schools now at the end of March. The games have been good and it’s been great to see so many Gothia-children play. The children really live up to the matches when they are allowed to show their skills they have learned in training. It is wonderful to see how their eyes lit and smiles go from ear to ear as they run onto the pitch.

In March, volunteers along with those responsible for the Gothia project visited the other football school located in the DRC. The Football school located in Kimpese was officially opened in 2010 and is still in the initial phase compared to Brazzaville has been running for almost 10 years. The trip went by boat across the river, through the capital Kinshasa and also in the car to Kimpese, which is about 200 km from the capital. Kimpese is located in a rural area with incredible natural surroundings and a relaxed atmosphere.

Two weeks were spent in Kimpese and we did a lot during that time. We’ve had numerous leadership seminars from all about how a goalie should react, how a leader should be, how different game systems work to how a workout is planned and run. This is interspersed with a lot of practice on the field with both children and leaders and it feels like to visit spurred everyone to keep working with both those sports as social activities.

I am very pleased with the visit to Kimpese and I feel very proud of all the fine leaders and children that are there. Sure, we’ve had many theoretical and practical sessions with them, but that’s not what I will mainly carry with me in memory. What made the most impression on me were the meetings with the people there, children and grown ups.

Massa, Massamba, Jose, Tristan, Maise, Merlene, yes the list goes on. Massa is 14 and she is one of the most talented girls in Kimpese. She seldom misses a workout, even though she really has a tough life unlike any other 14-year-olds life as I know. Both her mother and father are dead and she lives with her seven siblings, and I do not hide the fact that the Gothia means a lot to her.

Existence of Gothia is like a free zone for her as she ”can be herself” without feeling any pressure. She may for a moment let go of her adult role that she has at home and just be a child and play football and meet friends that she loves. It feels real good when I think about that little me may be able to contribute to a better life for Congolese children. And it is precisely such meetings that make me realize that all the work for the project is worth it, really every second!

Volunteers in Congo/Frida

On April 10 was the last day to register for the Gothia World Youth Cup 2012. We can therefore announce that more teams and nations than ever before have registered for the tournament. The exact number of teams who have registered will be posted at a later date. But for you who want to know which nations that have signed up you will find it here on our website.

Interest in the Gothia Cup 2012 has been tremendous. More teams and more nations will make this summer’s football fest greater than ever.

Class Kim Kallstrom Trophy class for players with intellectual disabilities, has grown and will this year include  30 teams from around 14 nations. A fantastic development. You can read more about Kim Kallstrom Trophy here.

In the class Gothia Tipselit Trophy class for invited teams for 17-year-olds, 24-strong teams will play to win the title previously won by the Wolverhampton, Elfsborg and GAIS. Read about Tips Elite Trophy here.

Just as exciting the fact that more foreign teams come to Gothenburg this summer. The majority of the participating teams now come from countries other than Sweden.

The games schedule for the Gothia Cup 2012 will be published on the website no later than mid-june.

SKF today announced that they will sponsor a football team to participate in the Kim Källström Trophy/Gothia Cup 2012 football tournament. The team will be selected from the SKF Meet the World tournament 2012 held in France later this spring. The Kim Kallstrom Trophy is organized by the Gothia Cup in cooperation with Special Olympics Europe.

SKF today announced that they will sponsor a football team to participate in the Kim Källström Trophy. fb.me/1CoPYQ1zP

— Gothia Cup (@Gothia_Cup) March 30, 2012

“SKF believes in the values of the Gothia Cup and our support for the Kim Källström Trophy is a way for SKF to help even more youth participate in an activity which promotes diversity and understanding across cultures,” says Tom Johnstone, SKF President and CEO.

It is by coincidence that the first SKF Meet the World 2012 team to play in the Kim Källstöm Trophy is from the same country of Kim’s national team, the Olympique Lyonnais. SKF France will organize the tournament in April for over 150 players.

“SKF will be the main partner for the Special Olympics football tournament in France. We are very proud of this. It is important to SKF that we support the access to sports for all the children, without culture or ability distinction,” says Serge Ailhaud, SKF France Managing Director.

Meet the World Tournaments are SKF’s largest Corporate Social Responsibility project involving local SKF companies hosting football tournaments within their country. This year, SKF will run 25 Meet the World tournaments in 24 countries (2 in China) for youth who would otherwise not have the opportunity to play in the Gothia Cup in Sweden.

Gothenburg, 29 March 2012

Aktiebolaget SKF (publ)

Emanuelle

Sometimes two hours before the training begins, the first children start to show up at the Gothia traning school. They arrive, shake hands, greet and ask if we are not going to start soon. Everyone here is very polite and all greet by shaking hands, which I like. Why don’t we do it this back in Sweden? It’s something I would like to take home with me, among many other things that separates our cultures.

There are some girls who are usually the first to arrive to the facility, always eager to start up with their trainings. The two hours that remain before it’s time to head out on the pitch and start the afternoon’s training seems in their eyes to be an excruciating wait. One of these girls named Emmanuelle and she lives right next to the fields. With her ten years of age she is among the youngest in the class, but she is also the one who is there most often. The few times she doesn’t show up, we have been worried and wondered what had happened, because she’s not likely to miss a training.

The girls who play football form a class and therefore varies a little agewise. Although Emmanuelle is several years younger than some of the other girls and a few heads shorter than most of them, she gives everything she has when playing and she is joking and having fun with the other players. In previous years it has been difficult to attract girls to the project and therefore we started with other activities to give them more alternatives to choose from. Girls playing football is not a very common thing in Congo and this can encounter some resistance. As a girl from Sweden, I have difficulty understanding the reason for this, because for me is a granted fact that boys and girls can practice this sport if they want. But to get things moving on the project we introduced also gymnastics and volleyball, which has proved successful and now it has also been boosting the football. At present, there are many girls in the project, which is great and we hope they keep coming! I think our role as volunteers is important here, because we sometimes have a different view of it all and can contribute with our knowledge of how things work in Sweden. Along with Frida and a Congolese coach, I have particular responsibility for just the girls’ football and I think it’s important for them to have female leaders as role models. Most of the girls are new to football and some had not touched a ball before they came to Gothia and it makes it a real challenge as a leader, as the conditions do not always make it easier. It is not easy to kick a pass on a filed that reminds you of a sandy beach and is very uneven. The girls class also attracts a lot of spectators and many are very curious to watch when we play. Many have commented what they see and it is not always kind words, but I admire the girls who are fighting on both the difficulties they encounter on the field, but above all against prejudices that football is not a sport for women.

I am impressed by girls like Emmanuelle, who dare to do their own thing and continue playing football, which she thinks is fun, although not everyone has a positive attitude towards it. Many of the girls have a great responsibility at home, and often help with both the cooking, cleaning and taking care of her younger siblings. So I think it’s important for these girls to come to the Gothia sometimes in the afternoons and do something else and just be children. I think it’s great that through this project we can mediate that girls and boys have equal rights. Anyone who wants to play football, can do this regardless of gender.

Football volunteers by Sara

After last year’s great interest in Kim Kallstrom Trophy, the class of football playing youth with an intellectual disability, the Gothia Cup has decided to extend the class in this year’s tournament. Last year, 21 teams from 7 different nations participated. This year it is planned for 30 teams from 14 different nations.

The Swedish national team player Kim Kallstrom, in the French top club Olympique Lyonnais, himself took the initiative to the class of 2011 to provide young people with an intellectual disability the opportunity to be part of the experience for the world’s largest youth football tournament, the Gothia Cup.

– It’s great that the class is allowed to grow this year. I have personally played the tournament and I know what a feeling it is to play against teams from other countries and experience the amazing atmosphere during the Gothia Cup. Last year a team from my own club Olympique Lyonnais participated and the players still talk about that experience. For many of them it was the first time abroad on their own so I know that the tournament has meant a lot to them for several reasons, says Kim Kallstrom.

Olympique Lyonnais participates with a team in Kim Kallstrom Trophy even during the Gothia Cup 2012. Kim Kallstrom hope to be there again this year and lead the march at the Ullevi Stadium before more than 50 000 spectators during the grand opening.

– My expectations are that it will come a lot of spectators to the games The teams offer real entertaining football with genuine sports enjoyment and deserve the attention of a big audience. For the players’ sake, I am happy that so many different nations are represented this year. That means a possibility of getting to know new friends from other countries and cultures. The fact that even young people with intellectual disabilities should be involved in tournaments like the Gothia Cup feels important and is a way to actually increase respect and understanding of these great young people, says Kim Kallstrom.

Kim Kallstrom Trophy is organized by the Gothia Cup in cooperation with Special Olympics Sweden and Special Olympics Europe.

For more information, please contact:

Dennis Andersson, General Secretary Gothia Cup. Phone: +46-31-50 67 81. E-mail: dennis@gothiacup.se
Par Karlsson, Press Officer Gothia Cup. Phone: +46-708-12 27 30. E-mail: par.karlsson@gothiacup.se

Read more about the Kim Källström Trophy

We are now looking for clubs that want to represent their country during the opening ceremony at Ullevi. Do you have an idea how you would like to show off your country’s colors, culture or history? Then you are welcome to submit your application today. Take the chance to carry the national flag before 52 000 spectators.

In the Gothia Opening Ceremony are all nations and cultures the great entertainment. But as if this were not enough, they are accompanied by nearly 500 dancers, 10 musicians and 15 solo artist. Together we create a rarely seen show. Music from around the globe play when the 60 nations march into the arena and when this year’s big hits are played, the audience sings. There is also time for reflection and you’ll discover that the Gothia Cup is much more than just football.

Send your application to info@gothiacup.se. Do not forget to write your name, club, country, and what would you like to do during the marching parade.

With a month left of the application period to the Gothia Cup 2012, about 1450 teams from 60 different nations have registered for the tournament. – Last year we had about as many registered teams at this time so it is most likely that we are aiming to last year’s record figures of 1570 teams in the tournament, says Gothia Cup tournament leader Lena Rönnefors.

Among the nations registered so far, there are no new countries that are registered for this year’s tournament. But Lena Rönnefors hopes that during the last month before registration closes we will receive an application from a nation that has not been here before.

- It’s always fun when the family of nations participating in the Gothia Cup expands with one or more new countries. But this gets more difficult for every year that passes. A total of 135 different nations were represented in the tournament since the start in 1975, says Lena Rönne Fors.

Gothia Cup 2012 is the 38th edition of the tournament,  since 2007 is sanctioned by the international football association FIFA World Cup for youth club – The World Youth Cup.

Prior to the Gothia Cup 2012 tournament, management look beyond Sweden’s borders to recruit new referees for the tournament. It is a part of the effort each year to offer the absolute best experience for all participating young people, both on and off the field.

When Gothia Cup 2012 kicks off on the 15^th of July, it is with more international referees than ever before. Out of more than 400 referees, almost ten percent will be from outside Sweden.

– It is obvious that the world’s largest and most international youth football tournament should be the tournament with the best referees. Therefore we look abroad for this year’s tournament to recruit new referees to the Gothia Cup 2012. We expect shortly to have everything ready with about 15 referees from Denmark, Germany, Czech Republic and Spain, says Lena Ronnefors.

Gothia Cup is not only the world’s biggest football tournament for young people. Since 2007, the tournament is officially sanctioned by FIFA as The World Youth Cup. Last year, some 1570 teams from 70 different nations participated in the tournament. Gothia Cup 2012 is played between July 15th and July 21th.

– With more international referees, we will strengthen our stated ambition to be a meeting place for everyone regardless of race, religion, nationality or gender. Here, football is the common interest to overcome differences and to create respect and understanding between people. This applies to both participants and officials, says Lena Ronnefors.

For more information:
Lena Ronnefors, Tournament Director Gothia Cup. Phone: +46 -707-88 71 10. E-mail: lena.ronnefors@gothiacup.se
Par Karlsson, Press Officer Gothia Cup. Phone: +46-708-12 27 30. E-mail: par.karlsson@gothiacup.se

Tynecastle FC participated in the Gothia Cup for the first time in 2005. Since then they have returned every summer. Their biggest success was in 2009 when they managed to reach the semifinals in Boys 15. The club was founded in 1928 and have today 23 teams active in the club.

Hutchison Vale had their first success in Gothia Cup already in 1979 when they reached the final. They won their first gold medal in 1980 and also got the price for best club in 1999. Hutchison Vale which was founded in 1940 has become one of the most successful clubs in United Kingdom.

Thank you very much to both clubs for your hospitality and we hope to see you soon in Gothenburg again!

Four intensive days filled with fun and floorball at full speed has now reached its end. After a thrilling final day 12 teams can call themselves champions of the  Gothia Innebandy Cup 2012.

The Gothia Cup organization is not only behind the world’s largest youth football tournament. They also organize the world’s largest youth floorball tournament. In the Gothia Innebandy Cup every year nearly 500 teams from five nations participate. During four days over 1,100 games are being played in 25 indoor halls around Gothenburg.

Nominated Tournament best club was, for the second consecutive year, the Czech club SSK Future.

Next year the tournament will be played between 3 and 6 January.

I just got home from training on Mansimou. It’s been a good day with many players, and I think it’s just wonderful that we are back to work and that we are getting to know the classes that we are training.  We are gradually learning the name of all the students as well as our French is improving.

It feels weird to say that we have been here half the time now, but that’s actually the fact. It feels like a very long time ago since we said goodbye to our families at LandvetterAirportin Gothenburg, but at the same time it seems time has passed quickly. When I think back on all the experiences I have had during this time, I do not know where to begin. Congois so different to anything I’ve ever experienced. The culture, the tempo, the mentality, the heat, the traffic, the food, yes, I could go on forever! Above all, I really enjoy all the wonderful children at the football school that simply make all my days. Sure: some days aren’t spent on a bed of roses, but mostly it’s really fun and December has not been an exception. In addition to the training sessions there have been other things on the program.

René Makondele from BK Hacken has been visiting us between December 5 and 7 , together with his manager and his former trainer. Before they arrived, they had visited the football in Kimpese. They were very pleased with the visit there and thought that the work went on very well. Here in Brazzaville they were shown around the facilities, and even in our office at ASUdh.

René had several workshops with all the leaders and he talked about his career so far, with ups and downs, differences between Sweden and the Congo etc. There were many notable things that came up and all the leaders were very excited to take in everything that René had to share. He and his former coach also had a review of different excercises and they also spoke again with all the players in the club and participated in their training.

Besides this Rene was also in training with the children in Mfilou and he walked around between all classes so that everybody could benefit from his presence. As you can imagine he had quite a busy program where he was trying to get as much insight into the work as possible. And I can certainly guarantee that René’s visit was inspiring, motivating and encouraging both for the children and for the leaders, and also for continuing our work here at the football school in Brazzaville.

Now I try to fix the mosquito net, crawl into bed and turn the light off for tonight. Today’s training at Mansimou really tired me out, and tomorrow is another training day! December has so far been a really good month, and I hope the rest of it will be just as good. A month that sticks in your memory forever because it was so good. A month that I will remember for the rest of my life.

A Happy New Year from all football volunteers through Frida

Kim Källström Trophy is a cooperation between the professional football player Kim Källström, the Gothia Cup och Special Olympics. The class is an international venture on youth with developmental disabilities. 

Passed summer 2011 was the first year that we organized the Kim Källström Trophy and the attendance was above all expectations. It was really cool to watch when 350 participants marched into the Gothia Cup Opening Ceremony together with the football player and founder of the tournament Kin Källström. We now stake for another year with more teams from more nations, more football and a lot of community!

We are ready for another summer with Kim Källsröm Trophy and lets hope that we will see you and your team here in Gothenburg on the 15th of July 2012!

Here you can read more about Kim Källström Trophy

Hope you haven’t missed SKF Meet the world’s online competition?

Show your skills in a video and become a football star. SKF invite all 11-20 year old football talents to compete in their online competition. The 10 most popular videos will get the chance to win a trip for 4 people to Gothia Cup.

To read more and upload your video, visit the Meet the World homepage at www.meettheworld2012.com

Spread the word to your friends and visit the page on Facebook!

The 26 December 2011 IF Tarup/Paarup from Denmark registered. The team was number 1000 to register for Gothia Cup 2012. Never before Gothia Cup has had more than 1000 registered teams before the entering of the new year. A new participants record for this date.  

- It’s fantastic to see that the Gothia Cup grows stronger and stronger for each year, says marketing director at Gothia Cup Niclas Andersson. – This proves that the youth of the world appreciates the meeting place we create every year in Gothenburg.

At present we have more than 1200 registered for the tournament and we do believe that the Gothia Cup 2012 will be another tournament with around 1600 teams.

See what nations that have registered for 2012

In the  newsletter I wrote last time I was here in Congo I told you about a guy called Chamma. It was in May 2009, about two and a half years ago. I was then working at Mansimou a few days every week and one day he turned up when I was alone preparing material for the training. He wasn’t more than ten years old and I remember that he was shy. Chamma told me he wanted to play football and when I suggested that he could start the same day he replied with a big smile and quickly ran home to pick up his shoes.

Later during practice the boys I trained were of different ages The older ones, that had been around for a while, took quite a lot of space. I was worried that Chamma would think it was boring or feel a bit uncomfortable and therefore asked what he thought about playing. In my latest newsletter I reproduced his response like this:

”His whole face cracks into a smile and he shines up like the sun in the sky. The brown eyes sparkle and he makes thumbs up with both hands and says nothing more than a brief ”yes”. ”oui”. Nothing more is needed. His joy can’t be mistaken. That picture is stuck to my retina and I have saved it in the small library of mine of all the moments I want to remember.

Now, when I’m back in the Congo, there have been a lot of dear reunions and I recognize many, many people. Many of them I almost had forgot in the huge crowd of people I have met here and many of them I haven’t spoken to since I left the country last time. I had not forgotten Chamma though, and I never will either, even if he wasn’t the first person I came to think of when I got back here. Therefore the moments that warmed my heart the most was when I gathered all the 13-14 year olds at the center, the day we were about to start up the activities again after the break. One face in the crown called my attention, Chamma. Same face, same guy, but a little bigger than last time. I was so happy to see him and to know he is still playing in our football school. Since he was the youngest when he started playing and didn’t have much training before I left the last time, I was a little afraid that he would quit.

The activities have begun and time passes quickly. Already a month has gone since we were in Don Bosco with all leaders and scheduled for the start-up. All the volunteers have got back into work, with different days at different facilities and we each one of us also has the main responsibility on one facility together with a Congolese. The mornings are spent in the office and the afternoons out on the different facilities with training and other activities. There have been many children now in the beginning and we have worked with the enrolment of all the children, old and new. For all the new children last Saturday we conducted some tests to get track of what level they are on, both in football and in school. Hopefully many of these, just like Chamma, start playing, but also will remain fro a couple of years.

Football Volunteers, by Sara

Lobatos Foot is a school project run by an elementary school in the south of Lisbon. The project gives youth the opportunity to play football as part of their education. The project started in 2009 and when the principal of the school asked the head coach Armando Lopez if the team would be ready to participate in an international tournament, for him it was natural to go to the Gothia Cup in Gothenburg.

Portugal has never been a country with many teams in the Gothia Cup. On average there is one Portuguese team participating every year. Armando however knew well about the tournament and had for a long time had the dream to participate with a team in the World Youth Cup. The tournament 2011 exceeded Armandos expectations and he decided to help other teams from Portugal with the dream of taking part in the Gothia Cup.

Throughout this passed autumn Armando Lopez has been working as an agent for the Gothia Cup in Portugal. The interest in the Gothia Cup was much bigger than what he thought it would be, and already by today 10 teams are registered to participate in the Gothia World Youth Cup 2012.

In November this year the Gothia Cup visited Portugal and Armando Lopez to meet with some of the teams that will come to Gothenburg next summer. Thank you for having us and for a really pleasant stay!

See what other nations that have signed up for the Gothia Cup 2012

See more films from the Gothia World Tour

In early November, we visited the German capital in order to meet German football clubs. At two occasions we met up at Pestana Hotel Tiergarten in Berlin where we talked to clubs from the Berlin area and informed about the Gothia Cup. Among others we met representatives from the clubs FC Marzahn 94, SG Stern Kaulsdorf, SC Borsigwalde and FC Nordost Berlin. Some of the present clubs were already in the planning phase for participation in the Gothia Cup 2012.

During our stay we also had the opportunity to meet and spend time with our Berlin contact Alexander Fischer. Alexander has helped us in contacts with the clubs and also to organize and realize the club meetings.

Next year C.E. Sant Gabriel celebrates its 100 anniversary. Over the years the club has been represented at 42 Gothia Cup tournaments and is the most loyal Spanish club. C.E. Sant Gabriel is also the most successful Spanish team in the Gothia Cup history. They have played the final at Ullevi Stadium not less than eight times. Five of these ended with a victory. The last gold medal was taken in 1993 in the class Boys 15.

The home of C.E. Sant Gabriel is in Barcelona, Spain. In the shadow of F.C. Barcelona they run one of the most successful clubs in Spain, for girls football.

The club was formed in 1912. In the early 1900 C.E. Sant Gabriel, like all the other clubs, focused only on boys’ football. A few years ago they got tired of that all the good players went on to the more established local competitors. The club began to invest in the newly started girls’ section. This initiative soon showed to bear fruit. Since 2000, the girls have a place in the club. Today, more than 50 % of the players in the club are girls and they hope this figure will increase in the future. The goal is to become best in Spain.

In 2011 the first team of the club reached the top division (Primera División). Every week they play against teams like Real Sociedad, Levante, Valencia and the local competitors Espanyol and Barcelona. This is a success that the club could never achieve in the men’s league.

The club will send 2 teams to the Gothia Cup 2012, girls 13 and girls 14.  ”A fantastic opportunity to measure our strength against skilled nations like Germany, USA and Sweden,” says the Club President Juan Llandrich. ”We want to bring both our 6th and 7th cup back home to our 100th anniversary”.

We wish C.E. Sant Gabriel welcome to the Gothia Cup 2012.

October has come to an end and it is with great enthusiasm and excitement that we now take November. In October, it has been resting and vacation. No activities have therefore been conducted at the Gothia facilities. This means that our volunteers have had limited duties which actually has been a little strange. However, we have still been able to work a little with some practical things. Me, Markus, and Frida have also been studying French. Three times a week we have met our teacher Ziko that has given us further knowledge of the French language. To me, that was a complete French beginner, it really has paid off.

We have also managed to travel and take some time off now during this exclusive vacation time of ours. We flew to the coastal town of Pointe-Noire, where we spent 12 days. There was a lot of swimming, sun bathing and exciting experiences. We also had a small detour to the jungle. We followed a relief organization for chimpanzees on a five hours drive over the Congolese savannah. Finally we reached Concouati where we spent two nights in a bungalow and we felt like real adventurers. We also went on several boat excursions among the swamps and one early morning we went for buffalo hunt. Unfortunately we didn’t see that many animals, but it really didn’t matter that much. It still was an incredibly exciting experience that we all appreciated. Just to get to see another side of Congo was really inspiring.

Back in Brazzaville we could only stay for two nights before it was time to move on again. We went to a small village called Madzia to spend the weekend in the atmosphere of culture. We set of with our driver Armand and our teacher Abel. Abel, who, after his 75 years of life still is in really good shape, taught us most of Congo’s culture, customs and history. The reason we went to Madzia was that the Swedish mission started here in 1909. Therefore there was a lot of talk about the first Swedish missionary, Hammar, who for some 100 years ago laid the basis for the mission in the Congo. It was a nice weekend that gave us a lot of new knowledge and understanding about why things work the way they do in this country.

We have also had time for a kick off with all the leaders at Gothia. We drove north of Brazzaville, to a place called Don Bosco, where we spent two days. The program included two long meetings and in between some good food and a little sleep. We discussed the business and there were many suggestions and opinions from all leaders. We also voted for people for the different committees within the Gothia. We are truly a great team of leaders and the two of us have really been received in such a nice way.

Recently we have begun to freshen up our office in ASUdh in town throwing out the old stuff and getting new things. The curtains are new and we will eventually also decorate the walls. New material have been purchased for the gymnastics and the volleyball. For example, we bought new volleyballs and a trampoline.

On November 5th the activities start up again and we are all looking forward to get started. It has been a time of preparations and it’s really tempting to launch the activities and the practices.

Best regards,

Markus Everstrand

On the 3rd of September this year’s edition of ”jouer pour la Paix” (Peace Tournament) was inaugurated in Congo-Brazzaville. Several guests were invited, including the sports minister, and followed the event. All the teams marched in and were presented during the opening ceremony that also included dance and music performance. The tournament is organized by the Gothia Cup football school and started in 2006.

One of the ground ideas was to create a platform of joy and community for the children and the adolescents in Brazzaville. The Gothia leaders also wanted to convey the school’s message of fair play and good attitude not only to the young people that attend the school, but also to towards other youth.

This is communicated to all outsider teams at a meeting before the tournament where team leaders and team captains attend. Many of the children we met have gotten to know new friends from other teams and areas in the city that they most probably never would have met under other circumstances. Having the opportunity to play football and participate in a tournament is important to many children. Gloire, a guy in the Gothia’s oldest team explains that the tournament is important to him and that he thinks it’s fun to show off his skills on the field, but also to see and learn from otherones that play.

There are many teams participating, both from Gothia and from other clubs, and this year a total of 37 teams are playing, compared to 15 in the first year. The tournament lasts almost three weeks and ends with one final day on 22 September. During the whole time there has been many spectators cheering their teams and contributing to a great atmosphere at the fields. They have danced and sung, and had they have celebrated greatly every time a team scored.

As the tournament this year has grown so big, we have used two different establishments and played on three different fields, which have worked out well. The organization around the tournament has been praise from several parts, and it has worked much better than the other tournaments in the city. Everything is carefully thought out with group stage, referees, health and safety.

For next year hopefully even more teams will register, but it is an economic issue. Irrespective the number of teams the tournament is important for all those who participate and it makes a difference for the youth Brazzaville. Some of the teams prepare during the whole year training and playing together just to play in the tournament. One of the leaders in the FC Emmanuel, a team that participates in the tournament for the second time, says that the tournament also is important because it prepares young people for the future in a positive way. It’s not just about football, but you learn to show respect and how to meet others. He has also got to know many other leaders with whom he has exchanged ideas.

The tournament engages many players, leaders and audiences of all ages. There is no doubt that the Gothia leaders have managed to create a wonderful meeting place, and as the name tells us, indeed it leads to peace.

Sara Svensson

Football volunteer

This year, the Chamber of Commerce celebrates its 350 years anniversary. It is celebrated by awarding a prize to the three West Swedes that in different ways exceed the limits of how to successfully develop the region. The Gothia Cup General Secretary Dennis Andersson is one of the three West Swedes that receives the nomination ”Gränslöst västsvensk” (”West Swedish with no limits”).

- It feels great and it is an encouraging pat on the back for the work we are carried on for almost 40 years. Gothia Cup is not only the world’s biggest football tournament, but just as much it is an international meeting place for children and young people from around the world.

Dennis Andersson hopes that the meeting between young people from different backgrounds will help to increase the understanding between people regardless of nationality, color, religion and gender.

- The language of football is universal and people all over the world can understand it. The Gothia Cup overcomes differences and creates opportunities for people to meet and learn from each other, says Dennis Andersson.

The Gothia Cup 2011 attracted over 35 000 participants and 1570 teams from 71 different nations.

That football unites people around the world has really shown with the Gothia Cup investments in football schools in Congo Kinshasa and Congo Brazzaville. Passed week the Gothia Cup General Secretary Dennis Andersson met the ASUdh’s Vice President Dr. Tomas Ndandou to discuss how the co-operation can be further developed in the future.

Since 2005 the Gothia Cup, in collaboration with the Swedish Mission Church and the humanitarian organization ASUdh, runs football schools in Congo Brazzaville and Congo Kinshasa. Today the schools have over 500 students that all share a common dream  - the dream of a life as a successful soccer player.

- We give the children an opportunity to realize a dream of becoming a football player by giving them training along with ethical and moral values, says Dr. Tomas Ndandou.

Beside the football, the schedule contains French and English studies. In addition, specific resources for students with dyslexia are provided. There is also a library where the students get support with their homework.

- Many of our students have been difficultly traumatized and suffer from heavy drug addiction as a consequence of the civil war in Congo. Our soccer schools have helped them to break a destructive behaviour and to come back as functioning members of the society again. The football is playing a central role in their lives.

The Gothia Cup General Secretary Dennis Andersson is looking forward to more worldwide football schools with the aim to encourage understanding among young people, regardless of religion, color or nationality.

- The football is a great tool to overcome differences between people. Our work in Congo clearly shows how universal the football is and how it can be used in the reconstruction of war-affected countries, how it unites people around a common interest and gets them to meet and discuss difficult and sometimes sensitive issues.

The Meet the World’s video contest has now opened. Submit a film where you perform tricks of any kind with a football. The 10 films that receive the most votes will be in the draw for great prizes, e.g. a trip for four people to Gothenburg and the Gothia Cup.

Read more and submit your film here

Rules
You have to be between 11 and 20 years.
1. Start the film by holding up a sign saying ”SKF – Meet The World” in front of the camera. The sign has to be a real sign and can’t be edited afterwards.
2. The film has to contain some kind of trick with a football.
3. The length of the film should not exceed 60 seconds.

The new brochure for the Gothia Cup in 2012 is now complete and this year it is presented in an new exciting format. The brochure gives you a presentation of the Gothia Cup, information about the tournament and prices for participation. Through the link on our website, you can read or download the brochure. Happy reading!

Download or read it here

It didn’t take more than 14 seconds before the first team signed up for the Gothia Cup 2012. When we traditionally opened the registration on 10 September at 00.00, the first team to register was IF Väster from Gothenburg in the age category G14.

- It’s great to see that the interest in participating at the Gothia Cup is so big that you stay awake until after midnight just to be sure of getting a place in the tournament, says Lena Rönnefors, General Secretary of the Gothia Cup.

After one hour we had received 20 inscriptions and when the first day was summed up, the number of registered teams was 136.

- Registrations are coming in all the time and until now we have received inscriptions from 247 teams from approx. 20 nations.

The inscriptions include teams from Australia, Canada, Kuwait, Tanzania, Syria, Cameroon and Uganda. In addition, a number of European teams from Spain, Portugal, Germany, England, Belgium and Italy have signed up.

- We really shows that we are a venue for soccer interested people from all around the world and that we live up to the FIFA nomination of us being the official world championship for young people in the club teams, said Rönnefors.

Gothia Cup 2012 will be played between 15 and 21 July.

The registration for 2012 is now open.

Click here to register for team

The Gothia Cup 2012 is on 15-21 july, 2012

UEFA Training Ground is the place where tomorrow’s stars will be put into focus. Here UEFA follows the development of the youth in Football Europe.

Passed summer UEFA was in Gothenburg to watch the Gothia Cup. This resulted in this movie that focuses on the size of the Gothia Cup and its importance to the youth in the world.

See film

You are all most welcome back in 2012. Registrations open on september 10th

Dates: July 15 – 21 2012

Age categories 2012:

B18 Boys born 1/1 1994 and later
B16 Boys born 1/1 1996 and later
B15 Boys born 1/1 1997 and later
B14 Boys born 1/1 1998 and later
B13 Boys born 1/1 1999 and later
B12 Boys born 1/1 2000 and later
B11 Boys born 1/1 2001 and later

G19 Girls born 1/1 1993 and later
G17 Girls born 1/1 1995 and later
G15 Girls born 1/1 1997 and later
G14 Girls born 1/1 1998 and later
G13 Girls born 1/1 1999 and later
G12 Girls born 1/1 2000 and later

Thanks to all players, leaders, supporters and volunteers that turns the Gothia Cup into the party that we have just experienced! The nice thing about experiences is that many of them are shared by all of us, while some of them are only experienced by you. When we see Kim Källström bringing 400 Special Olympic players into the stadion at the Opening Ceremony, or when we see representatives from all the participating nation on stage singing to ”We Are The Champions”, this is shared by all of us. But when you change a flag and talk to a boy or a girl you meet on the stand, this is an experience that only you have.

Some experiences that we all share is, for example, when leaders from Germany, Italy or Mexico are singing songs from their home countries or when 3000 leaders together sing ”Hey Jude” at the truly remarkable leaders party on Tuesday evening.

Or when Venezuela meets Iraq in the play off on Thursday. Approximately 3000 spectators, at a crowded Slottsskogsvallen, will get to see an exciting match that ends with a 2-1 victory for Venezuela. The winners receive congratulations and both teams applaud the audience for spreading a great atmosphere and giving support during the match. Fair play and respect for each other is our future. It is something that we together have to work hard on and try to maintain.

At the price award ceremony of the Special Olympic at Heden we experience tears of joy. All teams receive a medal so being a winner or a looser isn’t important, it is even forgotten, when th eplayers get up on stage to receive the jubilation. The way to the stage is lined with Gothia players that slap high fives with the prize recipients. Some of the SO-players can’t get enough of this great avenue and keep on running back and forth several times to receive the tributes. Everybody can feel the joy and happiness.

On Friday we received the news about the unimaginable tragedy that struck our sister country of Norway. We all feel deep compassion for the victims and all Norwegian citizens. The strength that the Norwegian teams show by completing their matches and standing united is the attitude we all must take. I believe that meetings like the Gothia Cup will be even more important in the future. By meeting and getting to know each other’s different cultures, religions and approaches, we will increase our understanding and we will realize that we all are equal. Evilness and atrocities must be fought through cohesion, unity and belief in the future.

Thank you for an unforgettable week!

Lena Rönnefors

Tournament director