Getting to know the participants of 2018's Football for Friendship programme.
ADVERTISEMENTGazprom's international children's social programme Football for Friendship gathers young players and journalists from around the world to participate in a range of events that aim to bring cultures together to promote key values. Euronews met some of the young talents at the 2018 edition in Moscow.
Twelve-year-old Ziporah got into football about four years ago, after she became involved in a youth team at home in Tanzania. Playing sport is not something that girls traditionally do in her local Masai culture but she quickly became hooked and is now a talented player.
At the 2018 edition of Football for Friendship, she attends as a young journalist rather than a player, where she gets the chance to write articles, produce videos and report on her team’s efforts.
What is the best thing about this trip?
The best thing about Football for Friendship is the cooperation between girls and boys and making friends… The best thing about being a journalist is that I can know many things that I didn’t know before.
Have you made any friends?
Yes! I made friends with Amqle. She comes from the Cook Islands and she loves me and I love her… It has surprised me because there are some countries that I didn’t know, like my friend’s country or Saramon, Iceland.
How is Russia different from where you are from?
In Russia there are lots of people that love football, but not in Tanzania.
What message will you bring back with you?
I’m going to tell them that we must be friends and that we must have honour…. I would like to go and help some countries to live in peace, honour and be friends.