The Santa Rita Durão Residents' Association holds, with support from Samarco, the 1st Santa Rita Durão Futsal Champions League Cup, with the participation of five teams made up of around 50 children and teenagers who live in Mariana. The championship will last two months, bringing together boys and girls between four and 13 years of age.
The opening of the Cup took place last Thursday (Jul-04) at the Ginásio Poliesportivo Oscar Madalena, and mobilized the community, which watched the first two games of the competition played between Real Madrid and Barcelona and between Chelsea and Manchester United. The Paris San German team also participates in the tournament.
Samarco contributed to the Association so it could develop several sports projects in the district and, for the small Cup, the resources were used to purchase material and uniforms.
This initiative is part of Samarco's voluntary social investment actions in its territories of operation.
Known as "Preguinho", Demisson Luís da Silva is the teams' coach and said that the support received expands the social work that the community has been carrying out. “I want to thank Samarco because with this support we can mobilize 50 more children. It is something that the city benefits a lot from as it is a way of encouraging school performance. Only those who have good grades and those who attend school regularly can participate in the tournament. Samarco is embracing the cause and supporting the construction of the future of this community”, said the coach.
The president of the Santa Rita Durão Residents' Association, Jean Roberto Correa da Costa Júnior, highlighted that the community is happy with the initiative. “This tournament is unprecedented and the joy of the participants is visible. The Copa Champions Samarco is just beginning,” he said.
The boys and girls participating in the championship are excited. Athlete Alice is happy to participate in the cup. “I like playing soccer and I came here to win and not to lose”, said Alice, enthusiastically. For her, playing football is a dream come true.
Priscilla Nilo, analyst at Samarco's Socio-Institutional Relationship Management, said that the company values sport and the cup is a way of encouraging participation among young people in the community. “The cup is an event that was designed with great care by the residents' association and Samarco adhered to the idea from the beginning. We are very happy with this first stage and I am sure there will be others to come. We recognize the importance of sport in the education and development of children, as well as being a great tool for engagement and strengthening family bonds”, said Priscilla.
Photos/Credits: Thaiss Moreira
