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

Three more trials for MTG United for Peace Cup held

Denmark, Latvia and Estonia. All these three countries have now held their trials for the MTG United for Peace Cup in Oslo in October. Denmark will be represented by Hjørring IF, Latvia by Imanta  and Estonia by Nõmme United ’97.

I’m impressed how smoothly it has gone from decision to implementation of MTG United for Peace, where we  bring together children from less fortunate backgrounds through the medium of football and work together with both the Nobel Peace Center and the Red Cross to build bridges between children of different nationalities and cultures through enhancing the understanding of peace, respect, tolerance and cultural diversity.

For the trials in Denmark, we worked together with Dana Cup, which is the biggest youth football tournament in Denmark and one of the biggest of its kind in the world with 42 nations represented. Hjørring IF became the best placed Danish U14 boys team at the Dana Cup and therefore are ready to represent Denmark in the MTG United for Peace Cup.

In Latvia the first MTG United for Peace football trials in Latvia was held on 27 August at the Olympic Sports Centre in Riga. The tournament featured seven teams from all over the country. The two teams who made it through to the final were the Saurieši Day Centre and the Imanta Orphanage. A close contest was eventually decided by a late goal, which came literally minutes before the final whistle and saw the children from the Imanta Orphanage crowned winners.

 

In Estonia the trials were held in the grounds of FC Flora’s Lilleküla Stadium on Saturday, 28 August. The event attracted 12 teams. Ultimately, Nõmme United ’97 emerged as winners and now go on to represent their country in the MTG United for Peace Cup in Oslo later this year.

More trials will be held during the upcoming fortnight.

Hans-Holger Albrecht

MTG United for Peace has started – in Ghana

The first trials for MTG United for Peace Cup have been organised. It happened last weekend in Akrade near Akosombo in the Eastern Region of Ghana, with sponsorship from Viasat1, our first African free-TV station.

Right to Dream beat FIPACUM FC in the final match in the trials by three goals to nil and will represent Ghana in the MTG United for Peace Cup held in Oslo in October to coincide with the announcement of the Nobel Peace Prize Laureates.

The trials in Ghana were just the beginning. Soon to follow are trials in Denmark, Latvia and Estonia. There will also be trials in Lithuania, Bulgaria, Slovenia, United Kingdom, Russia and Hungary.  Teams for MTG United for Peace Cup will also be selected from Sweden and Norway.

I’m really happy for the strong efforts by our dedicated organisations in each of those countries. Our employees are working together with local partners to make the trials happen and give the kids from troubled backgrounds the opportunity to travel to Oslo for the MTG United for Peace Cup.

Hans-Holger Albrecht

MTG United for Peace

It is our latest extensive activity within Modern Responsibility. We have launched something I’m really proud and exited about, MTG United for Peace­.

Its aim is to bring together children from less fortunate backgrounds through the medium of football.

 

We work together with both the Nobel Peace Center and the Red Cross and we want to build bridges between children of different nationalities and cultures through enhancing the understanding of peace, respect, tolerance and cultural diversity. Football is perfect to achieve this.

MTG United for Peace will arrange local youth tournaments for children from troubled backgrounds, in the age group 12-14, from Scandinavia, Eastern Europe and Africa. MTG’s organisation in each of the countries will work together with local partners to make it happen.

The winning teams will be invited to represent their countries in the MTG United for Peace Cup, which will be held in the Norwegian capital of Oslo in October with the start this year, to coincide with the announcement of the Nobel Peace Prize Laureates.

The children will be given the opportunity to meet and become friends with their peers from different backgrounds and countries. Additionally the Nobel Peace Center will inform and educate them through an interactive “School of Tolerance”, to further the cause of cultural understanding and integration.

Alongside the youth tournaments there will be celebrity matches featuring our Peace Ambassadors – football stars who have chosen to throw their weight and support behind our cause.

MTG United for Peace is part of MTG’s vision to ‘maximise the power of entertainment’ for the benefit of society and the communities in the countries in which we operate. As a football lover and a strong believer in our duty to give something back to the communities I look forward to the first final of MTG United for Peace Cup in Oslo in October.

Hans-Holger Albrecht