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Qatar’s U-20 team engage with the Hamilton community

Fun and football: Qatar’s U-20 FIFA World Cup team engage with the Hamilton community

Members of Qatar’s U-20 national football team touched down in New Zealand recently - to compete first in the Five Nations Series and then the FIFA U-20 World Cup, which kicked off for the team on May 31, with a match against Columbia.

It’s the first time that Qatar have been a part of the FIFA U-20 World Cup for 20 years, and the team have been making the most of enjoying the tournament’s host country, by engaging both with the local Hamilton community and Kiwis from further afield.

On Wednesday 4th June, the Qatar team’s management hosted 36 children aged five to eleven from YMCA Hamilton’s OSCAR programme, along with seven staff to the team’s game against Portugal at Waikato Stadium. Transporting the children, providing refreshments and kitting each of their little fans out in a full supporters pack, the children involved who came from both Melville Primary and Hamilton West School, were treated to a very special afternoon.

Gene Lentfer, Outreach officer from YMCA said “the kid’s lives were changed today. I have already had children get home and tell their parents they want to play the sport.” Five year old Katelyn Fisher also added, “it was so cool seeing our friends play down there, and the food was really yum.”

“YMCA sponsors the after school programme at Melville – providing care, food and support to the kids there. This costs us close to $25,000 a year, for which we receive no funding, so any help that we can get to provide these kids with a great experience is welcome. We’re grateful to the Qatar team for their generosity in arranging this outing for us,” says Graeme Mead, Centre Manager.

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On Saturday May 30, the team held an event at YMCA Hamilton with children selected by Variety – The Children’s Charity through their relationships with Stand Children’s Services and The Salvation Army. With a miniature penalty shoot-out and other games, including juggling volleys and traditional soccer played in big bubble suits, it was an incredible day of fun and football.

“We’re always open to helping with things that benefit the local community, especially when it involves getting kids active,” explains. “We liked what the Qatar team have been doing here, so we were happy to help,” said Graeme.

To further extend the reach of the lives they are touching during their visit, the Qatar team have also engaged with The Cube, a collective impact agency that works to ensure young people with disabilities are provided with the best services, opportunities and experiences possible. The Qatar team collaboration certainly fits the bill, as more than 30 young people from Christchurch, Auckland and Hamilton are set to have their own VIP experience at the Qatar versus Senegal game on June 6.

“This is such a cool opportunity for our young people,” says Catherine Cooper, National Director of The Cube. “They are excited to have a chance to all hang out together and to, hopefully, meet the team. I know it’s meant a lot especially to the Cube crew from Christchurch who are being flown up to be a part of the event.”

Earlier in May, the Qatar team went to Centre Place Mall in central Hamilton to engage with locals in a fun indoor goal-shooting competition, give out merchandise and prizes, sign autographs and provide photo opportunities for people from the community. As well as visiting local schools for skills sessions and hosting students at some of the Five Nations Series games, the Qatar team were officially welcomed at the Waitomo Caves last Tuesday with a powhiri and tour of the caves.

Taking time out from their practice matches and extensive training regime, the Qatar U-20 soccer team also spent a morning at Waikato Hospital and were adopted by WaiKids in a symbolic act of friendship between the two organisations. The team met young patients and gave out toys and Qatar fan gear, as well as donating two electronic wheelchairs to the hospital. “It’s important for us to give back to our host country and put smiles on the faces of people in the community,” says Ali Salem Afifa from Qatar.


ENDS

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