By Tenzin Sangmo
New Delhi, June 28 – Fourteen students from Tibetan Children’s Village are set to take the soccer world by storm at the Gothia Cup in Sweden next month. The boys between the ages 15-18 will participate in Category B18 of the annual youth soccer tournament that opens in Gothenburg’s Ullevi Stadium (July 13-19). Their long standing dream of taking part in the competition has been made possible with considerable aid from a Swedish organization this year.
The Gothia Cup is the most revered and popular youth soccer tournament in the world. It was first played in 1975 with 275 participating teams. With young teams from around the world participating in the tournament it promises to be a week of action and excitement.
The General Secretary of Gothia Cup, Dennis Andersson commenting on the sensitive subject of Tibet said, “We don’t want to make this a political issue. Nor do we want to exclude children or youth that are coming from areas that are stateless. Children don’t feel any boundaries and don’t set any boundaries either.”
The team will be escorted by Lobsang Tenzin (coach) and Tseten Phuntsok (manager). They are scheduled to leave for Gothenburg, Sweden on July 11 and will fly back July 20 after the tournament is officially over.
Visit www.gothiacup.se/eng for the official website of the Gothia Cup.
