Successful close of XXV CAF Friendship Cup

(Lima, January 27, 2008).- A total of 300 children's and juvenile football teams from South America, Central America, North America, Asia and Europe played this year in the XXV CAF Friendship Cup which ended on January 27 in Videna, Peru. The event was organized by of the Cantolao Sports Academy and the support of the Andean Development Corporation, as part of the "Save the Dolphins" project.

CAF representative director Eleonora Silva Pardo, who presided the closing ceremony, said that major Peruvian football clubs participated on the occasion of the silver anniversary of the championship, along with clubs from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, United States, Mexico, Japan, Uruguay and Venezuela.

The CAF representative presented the medals, diplomas and cups to Defensor Sporting (Uruguay); Real Jr. De La Libertad (Peru), and University Sports Club (Peru), which took first, second and third places, respectively, in category 97.

The president of Cantolao Academy, Dante Mandriotti, said the CAF Friendship Cup is one of the most important football tournaments in Latin America because it has FIFA approval and support from UNICEF. In its 24 consecutive events teams have played from all corners of Peru and the world with the participation of children and young people aged nine to 16.

This year, the CAF Friendship Cup included a female category with the participation of teams from Colegio San Agustín, Lima; Institución Educativa Esmeraldas de los Andes, Ayacucho; Academia Tahuichi Aguilera, Bolivia; as well as the Barrabases Academia of Chile; Escuela de Fútbol Playa del Angel of Venezuela; Selección Jalisco de México; and F.C Pensylvania of USA, among others.

The Cup – which kicked off on January 21 – was held simultaneously in La Videna de San Luis, Colegio San Agustín de San Isidro, Colegio Claretiano de San Miguel, Liceo Naval de San Miguel, and Yawar Huaca Complex of El Callao.

Well known international players have taken part in this prestigious championship in the past, including: Argentines Lionel Messi (FC Barcelona) and Javier Zanetti (Inter de Milán); Uruguayan Alvaro Recoba (Torino FC of Italy); and Bolivian Marco Antonio Etcheverry (Club Deportivo Chivas of USA).

They were accompanied by Peruvians Nolberto Solano (Aston Villa), Jefferson Farfán (PSV of Holland) and Claudio Pizarro (Chelsea), among others, and Juan Carlos Mariño, Paolo de la Haza, Luis Guadalupe, Jean Ferrari, Donny Neyra, Junior Ross, Ryan Salazar, Raymond Manco and Néstor Duarte, who learned their skills in the Cantolao Academy.

The CAF Social Responsibility Program is an initiative that supports innovative projects which – through educational tools in the fields of music, sport and basic trades along with generation of local opportunities – contribute to strengthening capacities and talents in sectors traditionally excluded from society in an effort to help them become agents of their own development.

In the sports area, the Social Action through Football Program channels and develops sport’s potential as a tool for prevention and social rescue by providing sport training and education for children, young people, trainers and local referees. Sport creates viable conditions for civic culture and contributes to an integrated humanist education which develops values of solidarity and discipline, responsibility and respect. These ethical-sports criteria are transferable to the social level.