The government will assist the children’s soccer teams of the diaspora, Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides said on Thursday, during a meeting he had at the Presidential Palace with members of the New York Football Team Pangyprios – Eleftheria.
He noted how important the trips to Cyprus are for the children of the diaspora adding that he spent a great part of his life close to the diaspora and some of his family members reside in New York. President Christodoulides underlined that through his contacts with the diaspora in the USA, he learned to love Cyprus more.
He praised the role of the Pangyprios-Eleftheria association, pointing out that its members do what they do without expecting anything in return.
The children gave to the President a jersey of their team as a gift and together with him they toured the premises of the Presidential Palace. He also briefed them on the history of Cyprus and the 1974 Turkish invasion.
A total of 18 teenagers from the children’s soccer team are visiting Cyprus since
February 15. Their trip includes various visits to historic and cultural places. They also held soccer matches with local teams.
Chair of the team Nicos Tziazas said that these trips are significant for the kids to get to know Cyprus and its history. He said that the children’s soccer teams were founded in the early 1980’s by Mike Leandrou with the aim to provide the kids with a healthy engagement.
He noted that today around 300 children, aged 5-17, both boys and girls, participate in the soccer groups.
He also mentioned that the teams compete in the Junior Soccer Leagues in the USA, while scholarships are also provided to the team’s athletes, both for university studies and for learning the Greek language.
Source: Cyprus News Agency