Match of the Stars in Sofia

I was definitely the most spectacular football match I have participated in. Nearly 5,000 spectators attended a special Match of the Stars football game at Bulgaria’s national stadium Vasil Levski in the country’s capital of Sofia on 9 September. One team was led by the Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov and one by me.

I have to admit, I was a bit nervous.

Former Bulgarian international striker Hristo Stoichkov scored the first goal in the Match of the Stars, an initiative organised by our Nova TV which raised money from the sale of tickets that will be used to purchase sports equipment for children in orphanages.

Along with Hristo Stoichkov, Boyko Borissov’s team also featured another two players who earned many caps with the Bulgarian national side – midfielders Yordan Lechkov and Krassimir Balakov.

In my team I had former Welsh international striker Ian Rush, former Danish international midfielder John Faxe Jensen and the defender Viv Anderson who played 30 times for England between 1978 and 1988.

This year MTG’s United for Peace initiative is connected with the show “Stani Bogat” (Who Wants to be a Millionaire) via another sports initiative for disadvantaged children. In the forthcoming season of the popular TV game show, participants will play to raise money for charity; the money they earn will go to sports scholarships for orphaned children who are being raised in institutions. The State Agency for Child Protection is a partner.

And I’m proud to say that Nova TV has continuously demonstrated its position as a socially responsible company. Charity, social campaigns, advocacy and partnership with other NGOs have been an integral part of its activities. This year’s Match of the Stars has been one of these initiatives. The funds generated by it will be used to educate and encourage children, who are future ambassadors of peace.

Guided by these principles Nova TV also organised a football tournament for Bulgarian kids from schools for disadvantaged children aged between 12 and 14 on 7-9 September. The tournament, which was part of MTG United for Peace, was won by the team Silistra who go on to represent Bulgaria at the MTG United for Peace Cup in Oslo. In Oslo, Silistra will play against the winning teams from countries in Scandinavia, Eastern Europe, the UK and Africa.

MTG United for Peace is a forum where children meet new friends and learn about football and different cultures. Apart from joining the football tournament, young participants in the event will also be involved in various educational activities run by the Nobel Peace Centre and the Red Cross. Participants in the competition will join the traditional Walk of Peace and take part in the School of Tolerance.

All the kids in the tournament were invited to my match with the prime minister. They could meet the stars and the winning team was presented in half time in front of the 5,000 spectators. It was moving to meet the kids. Several had never been in the capital Sofia before.

So what was the result in my match? Prime minister Boyko Borissov’s team came out on top, winning the fixture 7-0.

Hans-Holer Albrecht