ALMATY – Towards a Dream, the second nationalfootball championship among orphans heldJune 17-20, provided an opportunity foreight teams from all regions of Kazakhstan to fight for the main prize – a trip to Milan.
Football teams from Astana, Almaty, Karaganda, Pavlodar, Aktobe, Taraz, Kostanai and Semey met inthe city’scentral stadium.
The opening ceremony of the final match was colourful. A member of the Almaty Maslikhat, the local representative body, Oleg Pechenik, the director of the central stadium, andElvira Nurbayeva, a representative of PetroKazakhstan,came to support the boys. Kazakh singer Abdulkarim Karimov also performed during the final game.
“We share the principles of sport and it’s no coincidence that the charitable foundationBaurzhanpromotes and supports sportsfor the second year. We believe that sport will help you find true friends for life, gain self-confidence, teach waysto overcome obstacles and achieve set goals. This will help you in life regardless of what path or which profession you choose,” said Zhuldyz Omarbekova, a member of the political council of Nur Otan.
The final turned out pretty stubborn andemotional, as neither teamwanted to concede victory, but the Almaty regional team won. The Barys team scored the top corner kick from midfield in the first minutes of the game. Thanks to the technique and agility of the boys,a powerful support group and the care of the coach,which actively manifested itself throughout the match, Barys defeated Sunkar bya score 5-1.
Yugay Danil, the best Barys goalkeeper, shared his impressions. “I am very pleased that our training has not passed in vain, because for a year we were diligently preparing for the championship. At boarding school, we were told that we should not come back without victory,” he said.
The best players of the tournament were awarded prizes and gifts amid a festive atmosphere.
“I am very happy that we won. It was a difficult victory, because all our rivals were strong and worthy. We believed that we would get the cup, it is in our hands. I am grateful to the Baurzhan foundation for realisingmy dream,” said 12-year-old Barys player Amangeldy Kussainov.
The Towards a Dreamchampionship is not only an incentive for an active and healthy lifestyle, but also a chance for young football players to show themselves.Not every orphaned child who has the talent and ability can show hisworth and havea chance to get into professional football. Especially for this game so-called “selectioners” were invited who were looking for talents for the nationalteam. Vasiliy Maryunyak, head football coach of the National Sports College, noted VictorMaloivan, a very promising player fromthe Aktobe Algateam.
According to the coach, this calm and responsible boy is actively involved in sports. He is a multiple champion on thefootball field and in skiing. The boy wants to play on the Aktobeteam,but in his wildest dreams he sees himself as a part of the Bavariafootball club.
Another pleasant surprise for the children was prizes and gifts from companies such as RESMI Group, Raimbek Bottlers, Capital Partners, Nike and the Kairat football club.
According to the organisers, this year’s championship attracted a record number of players. Preliminaries were held in 10 cities among 20 teams. About 300 boys in the 11-14age groupfought for the right to participate in the finals. Eight teams got ticketsto the final tournament and stayed in the southern capital for four days. During their stay they were invited on interesting city tours.
The Baurzhancharity foundation traditionally organises annual visits to the leading foreign football clubs forthe winners of the championship. This year, the champions of the tournament were granted a ticket to Italy, which was realised thanks to the support of the investment and industrial corporation ZHERSU.The boys will go to the Milanellosports centre to meet renowned players such as Kaka, Robinho, Mario Balotelli and others. The trip is scheduled for the end of August.
