"1...2...3...FOOTBALL!"

Standing in front of the net, with the sun blazing in the sky, my chest swelled with pride as I listened to the chorus of young voices coming together as one.

This moment of unity summarised the end of a weeklong programme, titled

‘Be active – Children and Football’.

Growing up as a child in Bulgaria, I loved playing football and was privileged to have a supportive family who allowed me to grasp all opportunities in the sport that I adored, while also opening my mind to alternative experiences by encouraging my study of music. However, with age and hindsight, I became increasingly aware that such opportunities are not so easily granted to or accessible for all; leaving many young people in those small communities, like my own, with few chances to discover their own passion. Furthermore, as in many places, divisions linger, and pockets of the community often become side-lined due to a lack of communication, understanding and guidance. It was my recognition of these issues, issues that I had previously overlooked, that became the driving force behind my proposal to develop and deliver a children’s coaching programme.

It was in the summer of 2018, after qualifying as a football coach in the UK the previous year, that I made the decision to begin opening gates of opportunity to the young people of my hometown of Krivodol, Bulgaria. With a sense of empowerment from my own experience, my aim was to provide free football coaching, with a foundation of unleashing the potential of these children, which would otherwise be overlooked, by providing a pathway for their development and displaying a belief in them as the future generation. We established a motto for the program, which was:

“Say NO to racism and discrimination”.

This project not only intended to deliver knowledgeable football coaching within a fun and engaging environment, but also, and more importantly, to deliver an education to children on racism and discrimination, hoping to instil an understanding of why it has no place in our society.

From a simple idea shared with a friend, to connections with the local school, quickly followed by the support of the local council, I found that persistence and dedication paid off. In the lead up to the project, I communicated with dozens of people to find an appropriate pitch, secure sponsors and fundraise the money required to buy equipment and make the program a success. Despite some setbacks and disappointments, finally, with coaches lined up and shirts printed, I attended the local school to provide an open invite for any children interested in joining the program.

It was a roaring success!

Children from across the town attended and threw themselves into the magic of the game. Parents were amazed by the transformations that they saw in their child’s attitude and each day, smiling faces greeted each other on the playing field. As the week drew to a close, these children, who had always felt divided, were given one ball, one kit and one objective; to score the winning goal. Over five days of coaching, these young people had been working on skills and strategies necessary for playing the game. They were now faced with the challenge of combining the best, and worst, of each other to produce a functioning team. They were required to perform together to achieve a shared goal, on a pitch where age, ability, gender and race held no influence.

Since that first weeklong program in 2018, the project continued for a consecutive year in 2019. Word had spread and the success of the previous year meant that 96 children, aged 7 to 15 years old, including 16 girls, attended. On the back of inviting local football clubs to observe the sessions and games, 3 players were scouted for their academies. Additionally, inspired by the ‘Be active – Children and Football’ program, local organisations created chess clubs and volleyball clubs, amongst other activities.

I hope that I will once again be able to host a project for young people in the future. Yet, I take pride in the legacy of this program alone in providing the children of Krivodol a unified voice to discover and shout for their passions and see themselves as the future.

1st June - Children's Day in Bulgaria.

A day to celebrate the Rights of the Child, regardless of race, nationality, gender or religion.