The Peres Insatiate for Peace ran a Mini World Cup tournament in Herzliya’s football stadium. Mr. Shimon Peres attended the event alongside Herzliya’s mayor, Moshe Fadlon, the chairman of the football association, Ofer Eini, and several state ambassadors. Approximately 400 Jewish and Arab children took part in the event.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C71y05kiHro
Maccabi Tel Aviv’s management was represented by CEO Martin Bain, Sports Director Jordi Cruyff, head coach Pako Ayestaran and the rest of his coaching staff Juan Torrijo, David Caneda and Jose Viela. Team captain Sheran Yeini, Eran Zahavi, Barak Itzhaki and Carlos Garcia represented the players.
Former Israeli president Mr. Shimon Peres, kicked off the games and said: “Football teaches and leads to peace. One day all battle fields will be replaced by football pitches”.
Maccabi’s Sports Director Jordi Cruyff spoke about the importance of such events, and said: “I think it is important to emphasize again and again that football is a good way to unite people, no matter where you come from, what color or religion you have. We have been active as a club and supporting the ‘Peres Center’ to try and make things more known about being together and not separating people because religion or color. The most important things that people outside Israel do not know, and I did not know before I signed here that there’s a lot of Arabs and christens that play in the league and are accepted and loved. We also have players in the youth division and in the first team and we all go hand in hand to reach our objectives. There is no place in our club for bad comments our racism. Our owner always emphasizes that he wants to create a multi-cultural team and we always look for Arab players to join us”.
Maccabi’s captain Sheran Yeini added: “It’s fun being here. There are Arabs and Jews but we don’t see the differences. If as a footballer I notice people in the crowd cursing others, I would take my teammates to explain that all work together, live together and at the end of the day, that we are all human beings”.
