Ecuadorian team travels to Peru to play in CAF Friendship Cup

(Quito, January 25, 2008).- With the support of the Andean Development Corporation and the Football and Winning Mentality Corporation (FMG), the SUB 16 team of Juventus of Esmeraldas will represent Ecuador in the XXV Tournament of the CAF Friendship Cup to be held from January 21 to 27 in Callao, Peru.

CAF supports various social responsibility programs in the region, including the Sports Training Program whose objective is to improve the integrated training of children and young people from low-income sectors in Ecuador through promotion of football. The program benefits over 700 children and young people from low-income sectors who attend five football schools in Esmeraldas (Iván Hurtado Foundation, Amiga Foundation, San Lorenzo Foundation), Quito (Divino Preso Foundation), and Guayaquil (Huancavilca Foundation), all are organizations allied with Football and Winning Mentality.

Each school has as its own objectives based on the social conditions of their population. CAF funds are used for training and advice, and sports material, equipment and implements, among other items.

Sport creates viable conditions for civic culture and contributes to an integrated humanist education which develops the values of solidarity and discipline, responsibility and respect. These ethical-sports criteria are transferable to the social level.

About the CAF Friendship Cup

The CAF Friendship Cup is one of the most important football tournaments for children and young people in Latin America. A total of 300 children's and juvenile football teams from South America, Central America, North America and Europe will participate in the XXV CAF Friendship Cup. In 24 consecutive events, teams of young people aged nine to 16 have participated from all over the world.