Novazzano, Switzerland—A children’s soccer tournament that rewards friendly and sportsmanlike behavior was held in the Italian-speaking Swiss canton of Ticino.
On Sunday, May 8, 2016, the fifth edition of the Peace Cup soccer tournament took place in cooperation with the Novazzano soccer association.
Twelve teams of Category “E,” aged 9 to 11 years, from the Italian-speaking part of Switzerland as well as from Northern Italy, participated with the purpose of promoting fair play.
UPF in the canton of Ticino wishes to offer schoolchildren a yearly opportunity to play soccer in a friendly environment. UPF rewards especially friendship-oriented gestures of behavior during the competition and also in the spectators’ seating area. Actually, the best fans receive a trophy for fair support, as well.
“The greatest thing is that in this tournament everybody wins something,” a player commented cheerfully at the end of the event. In fact, in addition to the main awards, all the teams received a trophy and also numerous special prizes for exemplary behavior of correct comradeship on the field, observed by the referees and UPF staff. Even the kitchen staff were rewarded for having prepared hundreds of delicious meals.
The weather was good, but the enthusiasm shown by the participants and spectators even better! The proud faces of the children were the proof that in a well-played game it is possible to learn also from one’s own defeat, being pleased with oneself and the others and always smiling.
This year for the first time, the tournament was won by Italian players: The team from the northern Italian town of Cossato was the first-ranking champion team. In addition, it received the award for the best slogan: “Sometimes you win; always you will learn.”
The main trophy, the Peace Cup, was given to the team of Stella Capriasca for its behavior of respecting the motto of the tournament, “Play soccer, make peace.”
Please watch our reports, videos and pictures on the website www.peacecup.upf-ticino.ch or our Facebook page. If you like our page, we would be happy to have your “like”!